Dani Laidley set to stun on Brownlow Medal red carpet as she reveals her ‘itch’ to coach again

Dani Laidley has revealed her excitement to glam up and walk the red carpet “completely unmasked” for the first time.

Danielle Laidley made her red carpet debut at football’s biggest night, the Brownlow Medal, on Sunday evening.

Laidley attended the AFL’s most glam evening with her partner Donna Leckie by her side.

“I have been to maybe eight or nine Brownlows over the journey and this will be the first time that I get to be me, completely unmasked,” Laidley, the former North Melbourne premiership player and coach, told the Herald Sun earlier this week.

“I’m a little nervous, but am really excited.

“I said the same thing to my (North Melbourne) teammates at our recent reunion, that I finally got to celebrate our premiership as me, and it is the same sort of thing with the Brownlow.

“Regardless of who wins, we will be celebrating and really enjoying the night.

“We are very grateful, both of us, to have been invited as guests of Virgin and to be at the Brownlow with the football community which has been so unconditionally supportive, it has been quite overwhelming.”

Dani Laidley at the 2022 Brownlow Medal. Picture: Getty Images

Laidley with Donna Leckie.

Laidley was styled by powerhouse stylist Lana Wilkinson and wore a gown by Marquise Atelier. She met her dream team for final fittings at The Langham Melbourne on Saturday.

Laidley said she had not ruled out coaching in the future but not at elite level.

“The itch is there, it is always there,” she said.

“I love to coach and develop people and bring out the best side of them.

“What that looks like in the future I am not too sure.

“I would not by any stretch of the imagination go back into elite level coaching, I would not think so, but it might be time to give back at lower levels, community levels, which I have really enjoyed previously.

“I always thought football was my calling and I was reasonable at it, but I also think now that destiny might take me in another direction and that I can help the larger society.

“Maybe my calling is bigger than coaching just football.”

Laidley at an AFL match in August. Picture: Michael Willson/Getty Images

Laidley with her partner Donna Leckie. Picture: Alex Coppel

Laidley said she was enjoying the journey her new life was taking her on.

“We (she and Leckie) are both able to live more in the present now and that has been difficult at certain stages in my life,” she said.

“We are just enjoying the journey.

“Living all those years in fear and the shame that perhaps comes with something like this, and you don’t know yourself, and then the fear of being in the industry that I was, and now that has just gone, completely gone. I am at peace.”

A Virgin Australia Group spokesman said the company was delighted to host Laidley at the Brownlow Medal.

“Virgin Australia has always been a champion of diversity and inclusion and we are proud to have AFL trailblazer, Danielle Laidley, as our special guest in our first year as naming rights sponsor of the Brownlow Medal Red Carpet.

“We look forward to being a part of the glitz and glamour while showcasing our unique Virgin Australia flair. As the official airline of the AFL, it’s an exciting time for us to take our partnership of the league to new heights.”