‘Grubby’: Premiership teammate slams Laidley ridicule

A former teammate has reached out to Dean Laidley offering his “love” and “help” after the premiership player was arrested on Saturday night. It comes after the police officer who leaked photos of the premiership star in police custody was suspended.

AFL star David King has spoken out in support of former teammate Dean Laidley after a picture of Laidley in police custody was leaked on social media following his arrest on Saturday night.

King on Monday told Fox Footy Live he “loved” Laidley and had already got in touch with his 1996 flag mate.

“It is a hard one to talk about. He has done some things outside the law and the processes kick in so you put that to the front of the conversation,” King said.

“The second part is overwhelming sadness he is in this situation. And the family has to go through this situation.”

“I didn’t have any idea he was at this stage. But you send a text, you know he will get it eventually.

“You tell him you love him and want to help him whenever he is ready and you just hope he is ready. The overwhelming sadness for the situation.

“...The whole last 24-hours has disappointed me. It highlights the case that I don’t know if we are ready as an AFL community for anything that is outside the generalised norm, what is considered normal.

“I am so disappointed it’s 2020 and we are still not there, the ridicule on social media was hard to read.

“It got grubby for me. It made me feel a bit sick.

“I just think everyone lives their own way as long as they are acting within the confines of the legal process and we are a long way from that.”

It comes after it was revealed former premiership star Dean Laidley was suffering from a psychiatric illness and was on bail when he was arrested on Saturday.

The Herald Sun can reveal Laidley’s lawyer, Dee Giannopoulos, told the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Sunday her client needed to see a mental health care nurse as soon as possible following his arrest on Saturday night.

The court also heard it was Laidley’s first time in custody.

Laidley did not apply for bail and was remanded to reappear via video link next Monday.

Laidley is charged with stalking under the Crimes Act, and other offences including commit an indictable offence while on bail.

The 53-year-old was ­arrested in St Kilda on Saturday night after police were called to an incident outside a residence about 9pm.

He was wearing women’s clothing when he was arrested and questioned.

The Herald Sun has been told the premiership player also allegedly demanded to be called Daniella while being interviewed at the police station.

Photos of Laidley wearing a wig and female clothing emerged and were widely shared on social media last night as news broke of his ­arrest.

Police mug shot of Dean Laidley.

A picture that was circulating widely on Twitter.

A male Senior Constable from the southern metropolitan region has been suspended with pay over the scandal.

He has been interviewed for criminal conduct and is expected be charged on summons with unauthorised disclosure of information.

The offence carries a two-year maximum jail term and $40,000 in fines.

The officer will also face internal disciplinary action and could be sacked from Victoria Police.

Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton offered a personal apology to Laidley over the gross breach of police conduct.

He said the leak was “unlawful” and investigators will leave no stone unturned in determining how the images got out.

The probe will also look into the motive of the leak, including whether transphobia was a factor.

“I am appalled an employee of Victoria Police has taken these photographs,” Mr Patton said.

“It is unacceptable conduct. It is appalling conduct and there is no place for it in our organisation.

Laidley coached North Melbourne for more than six seasons.

Laidley gives a press conference while North Melbourne coach.

“This is a breach of privacy, a breach of human rights and we are taking the matter extremely seriously.”

Investigators believe six other people, who may be police, were sent the photo of Laidley during his police interview and his official mugshot via Whatsapp.

The deputy commissioner said these people will be scrutinised and could face criminal charges.

The senior constable’s phone will be thoroughly “interrogated” as part of the investigation.

“We will be stepping through the entire process. We will be interrogating the phone of the member and looking at a forensic examination to see where this leads,” Mr Patton said.

The officer was interviewed by police today and was said to be remorseful for his actions.

He is co-operating with Professional Standard Command detectives.

Mr Patton vowed to make sure a similar incident never happened again.

Coaching against Fremantle at Subiaco Oval in Perth, where Laidley grew up. Picture: Jackson Flindell

“Clearly we have let down that person whose photos were taken. We have breached his privacy and I apologise on behalf of Victoria Police,” he said.

“That conduct should never occur by an officer. But it has and all we can do now is take it as seriously as we can so we can take actions so everyone knows we view this as being totally unacceptable and totally appalling conduct,” he said.

An email was sent to all members of Victoria Police imploring them to come forward if they were sent the images.

Police Minister Lisa Neville said the person who had leaked the photos from inside a police station acted in an “idiotic” way.

“It was an idiotic thing to do,” Ms Neville said.

“This is completely unacceptable to breach privacy,” Ms Neville said.

“Police have absolutely taken seriously this is a real breach.

Ms Neville said she was shocked the images had been leaked, but believed the breach was more because of his footballing background rather than being motivated by transphobia.

NORTH MELBOURNE VOWS TO SUPPORT LAIDLEY

Laidley’s former employers North Melbourne and the league’s playing and coach support groups will attempt to find ways to support him despite his dramatic descent.

Former North Melbourne player Mark Brayshaw, now the AFL Coaches Association chief executive, told the Herald Sun the body was determined to help the former senior coach.

“His issues haven’t escaped our attention. We are in conversations with North Melbourne and the players’ association to try to work out the best way we can help him.”

Some of Laidley issues were known across the North Melbourne past players network but few were aware of the extent of them.

Past players spoken to today were shocked at his fall from grace and wondering if they could have done more to help him out.

Laidley with the Premiership Cup after the 1996 Grand Final.

But the man commonly known by players as “The Bible” given he was so hard to read was also seen as something of a loner who kept his own counsel.

Laidley took over as coach at Essendon District Football League Premier Division club Maribyrnong Park in 2019.

He steered the Lions to a sixth-placed finish in his first season at the helm after they waved goodbye to several big names.

When he was appointed in September, 2018, Laidley declared his desire to “build the football club into one of the elite clubs in the EDFL” and said he envisaged his stay at Monk Oval to be long term.

Maribyrnong Park is yet to make a decision about Laidley’s hold on the top job as suburban clubs prepare for a potential return to the field amid the coronavirus crisis.

“At this point, the club has no comment to make. Our position is no comment,” president Andrew Brockfield said.

“We won’t be offering any statements at this stage.”

PHOTO LEAK CONDEMNED

Laidley’s lawyer, Dee Giannopoulos from Doogue and George, last night blasted the leaking of the image on to Twitter.

“Outraged that pictures of my client, taken by some police officer, on the sly, when in custody in interview have hit the media. Typical,” she wrote.

Lawyer Bill Doogue added: “Disgraceful. Taking photos unlawfully and sharing them. And these were sneaky photos while in police interview in police ­station by a police officer.”

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It was alleged on social media that Laidley was later strip searched and a bag of methamphetamine was found in his possession.

It was also alleged Laidley had made threats to kill.

Friends of Laidley told the Herald Sun they were aware of rumours of him cross dressing and that they were also aware he was using the drug ice.

Victoria’s leading civil liberties advocate last night blasted the leaked photographs of Laidley.

“The images circulating of a high-profile arrest today are a deplorable breach of privacy,” Liberty Victoria tweeted.

“The transphobic overtones only serve to make the breach even more egregious.

“Not good enough Victoria Police: we are watching,” the council wrote.

“Please deal with this unacceptable incident swiftly and properly.”

Dean Laidley playing for West Coast.

In action for North Melbourne against West Coast.

Laidley played 151 AFL games.

Laidley and former Roos star Corey McKernan.

Former Kangaroos teammate Corey McKernan last night used social media to wish Laidley well. “Thoughts with a premiership brother tonight. No idea what’s happened or what’s lead (sic) to this but thoughts with you Laids, along with the Shinboner family,” McKernan wrote.

Laidley, who now lives in Moonee Ponds, played in the Kangaroos’ 1996 premiership team and then coached the club from 2003 to 2009.

He played 151 AFL games for West Coast and North Melbourne.

His 6½-year coaching stint at the Kangaroos ended with him resigning during the 2009 season.

Laidley was an assistant coach at Port Adelaide in 2010-11.

LAIDLEY’S LIFE LEADING UP TO ARREST

Dean Laidley’s last public appearance before his now infamous meltdown came last week on a local football podcast.

Laidley was the feature guest in his role as Maribyrnong Park coach on the Essendon & District Football League podcast which is hosted by Adam Saricaoglu and Adam Russell.

For almost an hour Laidley held court discussing how much he was looking forward to his second season at the helm of Maribyrnong Park.

It was obvious the former North Melbourne premiership defender was growing tired of being stuck at home.

“I’m a bit like a cat on the hot tin roof to be honest,” Laidley told the EDFL Tonight podcast. “I’m breaking my neck for it to start.”

In a wide-ranging interview Laidley revealed his fascination with the NFL and in particular the New England Patriots organisation.

“I’ve been over there five or six times and spent time at a number of teams,” he said. “Funnily enough I don’t barrack for them (the Patriots).

“I just admire the operation. I’m actually a Cincinatti Bengals fan and they haven’t been good for a while.”

Laidely admitted he’d “mellowed lots” since his AFL coaching days and only gave the EDFL premier division team one of his trademark sprays last season.

Maribyrnong Park finished sixth with seven wins behind Mick McGuane’s all-conquering Keilor who went through undefeated for the season.

HOW LAIDLEY EARNED NICKNAME JUNKYARD DOG

By Jon Ralph

Like few other players in football, Dean Laidley scrapped and clawed for everything he achieved as a player and coach.

His nickname preceded that ability to extract every bit of talent from his scrawny frame, even if Laidley never warmed to being called “The Junkyard Dog”.

In two decades in football Laidley was never the type for a fireside chat or the game’s most warm-and-cuddly personality.

Read the rest of this profile story here.

Originally published as ‘Grubby’: Premiership teammate slams Laidley ridicule