Fallen AFL star Dean Laidley ‘stalked’ Tinder girlfriend

Dean Laidley allegedly stalked a woman by calling her 43 times in one day and sending her a photo of himself with a belt around his neck.

Dean Laidley arrives at a Geelong rehab clinic on Monday night.

Former AFL player and coach Dean Laidley allegedly stalked a woman he met on Tinder, calling her 43 times in one day and sending her a photo of himself with a belt around his neck.

In opposing bail on Monday, police told the Melbourne Magistrates Court he took photos of the apartment building where the woman lived, left flowers on the woman’s car and tried to access the CCTV of her apartment.

He also allegedly called her a “slut” and other expletives. During one phone call, Laidley allegedly said: “I’m going to ram you with the car when you leave.”

Despite the litany of allegations, the 53-year-old was bailed to a private rehabilitation clinic where he will undergo an intensive 28-day drug and mental health program.

The fallen former coach arrived at the Geelong centre on Monday night, his head swathed in a jacket and carrying a water bottle.

His barrister, Philip Dunn QC, proposed to the court that Laidley be released into a residential facility to receive treatment for existing psychiatric issues, substance abuse and gender dysphoria.

Laidley was charged just over a week ago with stalking and other offences following his arrest at beachside St Kilda, and he was taken to the St Kilda police station.

The premiership hard man was dressed as a woman during his record of interview, including with a blonde wig, and a police search allegedly found methamphetamine in the cups of his adhesive bra.

In the bail application on Monday, the court heard his alleged victim was afraid to go shopping or to work because of Laidley and police were concerned his behaviour would continue to escalate.

“The victim is, in short, petrified,” Senior Constable James Maddock said.

Laidley appeared via video link from the Melbourne Assessment Prison wearing a face mask and blue gloves. At one point, he removed his mask and gloves, fidgeted and appeared to bite his nails.

Dean Laidley at a bail hearing in Melbourne Magistrates Court.

Mr Dunn argued his client was not an unacceptable risk and highlighted his mental-health issues.

He said police and a crisis assessment and treatment team had been called to Laidley’s house on a previous occasion when he was suicidal. “Mr Laidley is not a bad man,” Mr Dunn said.

“He’s just a man who’s lost his way … right now he needs to be helped and he’s prepared to take that help.”

Mr Dunn presented character witnesses from players and coaches, including Mark Williams, Wayne Schwass, Guy McKenna, Denis Pagan and James Brayshaw.

The AFL Players Association has offered to fund Laidley’s treatment, the court heard.

Mr Dunn said Laidley’s parents had divorced when he was a child and he went into a cocoon when he was 17 and joined the West Coast Eagles. Mr Dunn said his client lived in a bubble for the next 30 years with football structures and routines. When he left that world, mental health issues came to the surface.

Magistrate Kieran Gilligan said he believed the treatment would assist with rehabilitation and granted bail for 28 days so Laidley could complete the first part of the program.

He also cited the delay in the case being heard because of COVID-19, Laidley’s lack of prior criminal history and his ties to the jurisdiction. Photos of Laidley dressed as a woman being interviewed at the St Kilda Police Station were allegedly illegally taken by an officer and distributed to others.

Four police officers have now been suspended in relation to the incident and are expected to face criminal charges under the Victoria Police Act.

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

He was twice selected in Western Australia’s state of origin team.

The father of three coached North Melbourne to a preliminary final in 2007 during seven years in the job.