Danielle Laidley
Updated: 12/11/2025, 6:16:13 PM Wikipedia source
Danielle May Laidley (born Dean James Laidley; 27 March 1967) is a former Australian rules football coach and player, who played for the West Coast Eagles and North Melbourne in the Australian Football League (AFL) from 1987 to 1997, including in North Melbourne's 1996 premiership team, and was coach of North Melbourne from 2003 to 2009. In May 2020, Laidley was outed as transgender after a police officer leaked photographs of her in police custody.
Infobox
Born
(1967-03-27) 27 March 1967 (age 58)
Original team
West Perth (WAFL)
Debut
Round 1, 29 March 1987, West Coast vs. Richmond, at Subiaco Oval
Position
Half-back
Years
Club
1984–1992
West Perth
1987–1992
West Coast
1993–1997
North Melbourne
1988, 1996
Western Australia
2003–2009
North Melbourne
Tables
· Statistics › Playing statistics
G
G
Season
G
Team
B
No.
K
Games
H
Totals
D
Totals
M
Totals
T
Totals
G
Totals
B
Totals
K
Totals
H
Averages (per game)
D
Averages (per game)
M
Averages (per game)
T
1987
1987
Season
1987
Team
West Coast
No.
15
Games
10
Totals
2
Totals
5
Totals
119
Totals
24
Totals
143
Totals
37
Totals
6
Averages (per game)
0.2
Averages (per game)
0.5
Averages (per game)
11.9
Averages (per game)
2.4
Averages (per game)
14.3
Averages (per game)
3.7
Averages (per game)
0.6
Votes
0
1988
1988
Season
1988
Team
West Coast
No.
15
Games
11
Totals
6
Totals
4
Totals
139
Totals
29
Totals
168
Totals
44
Totals
11
Averages (per game)
0.5
Averages (per game)
0.4
Averages (per game)
12.6
Averages (per game)
2.6
Averages (per game)
15.3
Averages (per game)
4.0
Averages (per game)
1.0
Votes
0
1989
1989
Season
1989
Team
West Coast
No.
15
Games
10
Totals
0
Totals
3
Totals
116
Totals
60
Totals
176
Totals
40
Totals
15
Averages (per game)
0.0
Averages (per game)
0.3
Averages (per game)
11.6
Averages (per game)
6.0
Averages (per game)
17.6
Averages (per game)
4.0
Averages (per game)
1.5
Votes
0
1990
1990
Season
1990
Team
West Coast
No.
15
Games
7
Totals
1
Totals
0
Totals
93
Totals
45
Totals
138
Totals
23
Totals
1
Averages (per game)
0.1
Averages (per game)
0.0
Averages (per game)
13.3
Averages (per game)
6.4
Averages (per game)
19.7
Averages (per game)
3.3
Averages (per game)
0.1
Votes
5
1991
1991
Season
1991
Team
West Coast
No.
15
Games
0
Totals
—
Totals
—
Totals
—
Totals
—
Totals
—
Totals
—
Totals
—
Averages (per game)
—
Averages (per game)
—
Averages (per game)
—
Averages (per game)
—
Averages (per game)
—
Averages (per game)
—
Averages (per game)
—
Votes
—
1992
1992
Season
1992
Team
West Coast
No.
15
Games
14
Totals
2
Totals
5
Totals
158
Totals
90
Totals
248
Totals
30
Totals
13
Averages (per game)
0.1
Averages (per game)
0.4
Averages (per game)
11.3
Averages (per game)
6.4
Averages (per game)
17.7
Averages (per game)
2.1
Averages (per game)
0.9
Votes
2
1993
1993
Season
1993
Team
North Melbourne
No.
7
Games
17
Totals
1
Totals
2
Totals
209
Totals
60
Totals
269
Totals
35
Totals
23
Averages (per game)
0.1
Averages (per game)
0.1
Averages (per game)
12.3
Averages (per game)
3.5
Averages (per game)
15.8
Averages (per game)
2.1
Averages (per game)
1.4
Votes
6
1994
1994
Season
1994
Team
North Melbourne
No.
7
Games
24
Totals
0
Totals
0
Totals
302
Totals
137
Totals
439
Totals
77
Totals
16
Averages (per game)
0.0
Averages (per game)
0.0
Averages (per game)
12.6
Averages (per game)
5.7
Averages (per game)
18.3
Averages (per game)
3.2
Averages (per game)
0.7
Votes
4
1995
1995
Season
1995
Team
North Melbourne
No.
7
Games
23
Totals
0
Totals
2
Totals
272
Totals
131
Totals
403
Totals
82
Totals
24
Averages (per game)
0.0
Averages (per game)
0.1
Averages (per game)
11.8
Averages (per game)
5.7
Averages (per game)
17.5
Averages (per game)
3.6
Averages (per game)
1.0
Votes
3
1996†
1996†
Season
1996†
Team
North Melbourne
No.
7
Games
24
Totals
2
Totals
1
Totals
240
Totals
130
Totals
370
Totals
64
Totals
29
Averages (per game)
0.1
Averages (per game)
0.0
Averages (per game)
10.0
Averages (per game)
5.4
Averages (per game)
15.4
Averages (per game)
2.7
Averages (per game)
1.2
Votes
0
1997
1997
Season
1997
Team
North Melbourne
No.
7
Games
11
Totals
1
Totals
0
Totals
78
Totals
32
Totals
110
Totals
24
Totals
10
Averages (per game)
0.1
Averages (per game)
0.0
Averages (per game)
7.1
Averages (per game)
2.9
Averages (per game)
10.0
Averages (per game)
2.2
Averages (per game)
0.9
Votes
0
Career
Career
Season
Career
Team
151
No.
15
Games
22
Totals
1726
Totals
738
Totals
2464
Totals
456
Totals
148
Totals
0.1
Totals
0.1
Averages (per game)
11.4
Averages (per game)
4.9
Averages (per game)
16.3
Averages (per game)
3.0
Averages (per game)
1.0
Averages (per game)
20
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Totals | Averages (per game) | Votes | ||||||||||||
| G | B | K | H | D | M | T | G | B | K | H | D | M | T | |||||
| 1987 | West Coast | 15 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 119 | 24 | 143 | 37 | 6 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 11.9 | 2.4 | 14.3 | 3.7 | 0.6 | 0 |
| 1988 | West Coast | 15 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 139 | 29 | 168 | 44 | 11 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 12.6 | 2.6 | 15.3 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 0 |
| 1989 | West Coast | 15 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 116 | 60 | 176 | 40 | 15 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 11.6 | 6.0 | 17.6 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 0 |
| 1990 | West Coast | 15 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 93 | 45 | 138 | 23 | 1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 13.3 | 6.4 | 19.7 | 3.3 | 0.1 | 5 |
| 1991 | West Coast | 15 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1992 | West Coast | 15 | 14 | 2 | 5 | 158 | 90 | 248 | 30 | 13 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 11.3 | 6.4 | 17.7 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 2 |
| 1993 | North Melbourne | 7 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 209 | 60 | 269 | 35 | 23 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 12.3 | 3.5 | 15.8 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 6 |
| 1994 | North Melbourne | 7 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 302 | 137 | 439 | 77 | 16 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 12.6 | 5.7 | 18.3 | 3.2 | 0.7 | 4 |
| 1995 | North Melbourne | 7 | 23 | 0 | 2 | 272 | 131 | 403 | 82 | 24 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 11.8 | 5.7 | 17.5 | 3.6 | 1.0 | 3 |
| 1996† | North Melbourne | 7 | 24 | 2 | 1 | 240 | 130 | 370 | 64 | 29 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 10.0 | 5.4 | 15.4 | 2.7 | 1.2 | 0 |
| 1997 | North Melbourne | 7 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 78 | 32 | 110 | 24 | 10 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 7.1 | 2.9 | 10.0 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 0 |
| Career | 151 | 15 | 22 | 1726 | 738 | 2464 | 456 | 148 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 11.4 | 4.9 | 16.3 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 20 | ||
· Statistics › Coaching statistics
2003
2003
Season
2003
Team
Kangaroos
Games
22
W
11
L
10
D
1
W %
52.3%
LP
10
LT
16
2004
2004
Season
2004
Team
Kangaroos
Games
22
W
10
L
12
D
0
W %
45.5%
LP
10
LT
16
2005
2005
Season
2005
Team
Kangaroos
Games
23
W
13
L
10
D
0
W %
56.5%
LP
5
LT
16
2006
2006
Season
2006
Team
Kangaroos
Games
22
W
7
L
15
D
0
W %
31.8%
LP
14
LT
16
2007
2007
Season
2007
Team
Kangaroos
Games
25
W
15
L
10
D
0
W %
60.0%
LP
4
LT
16
2008
2008
Season
2008
Team
North Melbourne
Games
23
W
12
L
10
D
1
W %
54.3%
LP
7
LT
16
2009
2009
Season
2009
Team
North Melbourne
Games
12
W
4
L
8
D
0
W %
33.3%
LP
13
LT
16
Career totals
Career totals
Season
Career totals
Team
149
Games
72
W
75
L
2
D
49.0%
| Season | Team | Games | W | L | D | W % | LP | LT |
| 2003 | Kangaroos | 22 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 52.3% | 10 | 16 |
| 2004 | Kangaroos | 22 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 45.5% | 10 | 16 |
| 2005 | Kangaroos | 23 | 13 | 10 | 0 | 56.5% | 5 | 16 |
| 2006 | Kangaroos | 22 | 7 | 15 | 0 | 31.8% | 14 | 16 |
| 2007 | Kangaroos | 25 | 15 | 10 | 0 | 60.0% | 4 | 16 |
| 2008 | North Melbourne | 23 | 12 | 10 | 1 | 54.3% | 7 | 16 |
| 2009 | North Melbourne | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 33.3% | 13 | 16 |
| Career totals | 149 | 72 | 75 | 2 | 49.0% | |||
References
- Laidley resigned as coach in 2009. Darren Crocker coached the club for the remainder of the season.
- AFL Tableshttps://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/D/Dani_Laidley.html
- The Agehttp://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/08/01/1059480554664.html
- "DANI LAIDLEY"https://australianfootball.com/players/player/Dani%2BLaidley/12429
- "Laidley confirmed as Roos new coach"https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/laidley-confirmed-as-roos-new-coach-20021002-gdunfy.html
- The Agehttp://www.theage.com.au/articles/2006/05/30/1148754977717.html
- The Advertiserhttp://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/dump-laidley-carey/story-e6frecrc-1111113170390
- The Sydney Morning Heraldhttps://www.smh.com.au/sport/laidley-hits-back-at-carey-comments-20070317-gdpp2g.html
- The Sydney Morning Heraldhttps://www.smh.com.au/sport/carey-and-laidley-agree-to-disagree-20070403-gdptv5.html
- The Australianhttp://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22213269-23211,00.html
- "Laidley ends 'great journey' at North"https://archive.today/20121231050252/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/16/2599469.htm?section=sport
- "Dean Laidley resigns as coach of North Melbourne"https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/dean-laidley-resigns-as-coach-of-north-melbourne-20090616-ge7xq5.html
- The Agehttp://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/saints-nab-laidley-20111102-1mv1x.html
- afltables.comhttps://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/D/Dani_Laidley.html
- afltables.comhttps://afltables.com/afl/stats/coaches/Dani_Laidley.html
- Green Lefthttps://www.greenleft.org.au/content/identity-and-acceptance-masculine-world-sport
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/may/04/dean-laidley-arrest-victoria-police-to-investigate-leaked-photos-of-ex-afl-coach
- "Second Victoria Police officer suspended over leak of Dean Laidley photos"https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-05/second-police-officer-suspended-over-dean-laidley-photos/12217676
- Fox Sportshttps://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-dean-laidley-arrested-in-police-custody-charges-did-not-apply-for-bail/news-story/0143d7a1f5173aa5e8c4b9641cb0217b
- Fox Sportshttps://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-dean-laidley-arrested-in-police-custody-charges-did-not-apply-for-bail/news-story/0143d7a1f5173aa5e8c4b9641cb0217b
- "Dean Laidley allegedly found with meth during arrest"https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/29159625/dean-laidley-allegedly-found-meth-arrest
- "Victorian police officer charged with distributing photos of former AFL coach Dani Laidley, taken while in custody"https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-02/police-officer-charged-over-leaked-dani-laidley-photos/12943918
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jul/25/dani-laidley-image-leak-police-officer-sacked-victoria-dead-body
- "AFL star, coach and transgender role model – Danielle Laidley lays bare her story, in her own words"https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-17/danielle-laidley-documentary-stan-afl-transgender/102859424
- "Laidley tosses coin for Pride match as Roos triumph in the heat, Harris stars for Dees"https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/magpies-too-strong-for-the-cats-20220121-p59qat.html?btis
- ABC Newshttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-23/dani-laidley-return-north-melbourne-praised-transgender-communit/100644458
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/aug/29/reframing-courage-danielle-laidley-tells-of-overcoming-fear-shame-and-alpha-male-world-of-afl
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/sep/19/danielle-dani-laidley-praises-afl-for-support