Former AFL coach Dani Laidley gets good behaviour bond for stalking

Former North Melbourne coach Dani Laidley has pleaded guilty to stalking a woman and promised to be of good behaviour for 18 months.

Former North Melbourne coach Dani Laidley. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Former North Melbourne coach Dani Laidley has pleaded guilty to stalking a woman and promised to be of good behaviour for 18 months.

Laidley, formerly known as Dean Laidley, was arrested in May after a woman she had previously been in a three-year relationship with, called the police after being bombarded with dozens of text messages and phone calls from Laidley.

The Melbourne Magistrates Court heard Laidley, 53, went to the woman’s workplace, parked outside her home, left flowers on her car and photographed her home.

Laidley’s lawyer, Rob Stary, said Laidley had been using ice at the time and following her arrest had undergone drug treatment as an inpatient at a clinic where she “became a role model” to others.

He said Laidley was also seeing an endocrinologist “to deal with issues of gender transitioning and sexuality”.

Laidley was arrested wearing a blonde wig and make-up and photos from her interview at the police station and her mugshot were leaked to the public.

Mr Stary told the court his client wanted to raise awareness about transgender issues in the community.

“Ms Laidley can be a useful vehicle in assisting the community in dealing with people who experience transgender issues and transition — and that’s what she wants to do,” Mr Stary said.

“She wants to be able to utilise that experience in a positive way.”

Mr Stary said Laidley was drug-tested three times a week, as part of her continued treatment and rehabilitation, and he said the support from the football community had been a critical aspect in her rehabilitation.

Former teammate and current chief executive of the AFL Coaches Association Mark Brayshaw provided a character reference for Laidley, detailing his admiration for Laidley’s resilience and how his life had become “enriched” on being involved in the journey to affirm her gender.

Brayshaw said he had learnt more about the issues the trans community faced and described Laidley as “a remarkable and inspiring person”.

Ex-Kangaroo and friend Anthony Stevens said Laidley was committed to her family, and highlighted her “strength and determination to find the best version” of herself.

Magistrate Jack Vandersteen took the publicity surrounding the unauthorised release of the photos into account when placing Laidley on an 18-month good behaviour bond.

Laidley was a renowned defender for West Coast and North Melbourne from the late 1980s.