{"id":383679,"date":"2024-04-11T07:10:12","date_gmt":"2024-04-11T07:10:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=383679"},"modified":"2024-04-11T08:03:08","modified_gmt":"2024-04-11T08:03:08","slug":"laidley-abandons-coaching-return-for-new-path","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=383679","title":{"rendered":"Laidley abandons coaching return for new 'path'"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former North Melbourne<\/a> coach Danielle Laidley believes her football coaching days are likely over.<\/p>\n

Laidley, who now resides in Perth, publicly stated her interest in West Coast's AFLW senior coach gig last year, before it went to Daisy Pearce<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Over the summer she explored the Western Bulldogs vacancy and by early February it was down to her and Tamara Hyett for the role.<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Dire Dogs situation summed up in stunning Gus reveal<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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READ MORE:<\/strong> Joey gag spells trouble for 'Uncle Nick'<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Hyett, a former professional golfer and Melbourne AFLW assistant, was preferred to Laidley<\/a>, despite her seven years of experience at the helm of the Kangaroos from 2003 to 2009.<\/p>\n

Whichever decision the Dogs made was sure to be significant. And though Laidley holds no grudge following her near miss, she has redirected her attention towards other projects.<\/p>\n

"A full-time job back in footy, I think that's probably on the other side of the hill," Laidley told 9News Melbourne in an exclusive interview this week.<\/p>\n

"I think with the business (SIL Care) we have here in Perth (and) the business stuff and the corporate stuff that I am doing, I am getting to coach people every day in a different space.<\/p>\n

"So I am probably thinking, at this point in time, that the roles I'm doing – including writing for the West Australian a couple of times per week – and just having football as a social hobby, is probably more the path for me."<\/p>\n

If Laidley's time in a full-time football environment is over, it brings to an end a formidable career as a player, assistant coach and coach.<\/p>\n

\"AFL<\/p>\n

She was drafted by West Coast and debuted in 1987 before requesting a trade to North Melbourne ahead of the 1993 season. She was a key player in the club's 1996 premiership, all while battling personal demons at the time.<\/p>\n

And though the 57-year-old was unsuccessful in convincing the Dogs to give her another chance, she harbours no ill feelings towards the selection panel.<\/p>\n

"(Bulldogs CEO) Ameet Bains rang me up over the Christmas period and asked if I would be willing to have a chat about the Western Bulldogs job, which I did," Laidley said.<\/p>\n

"I made a full presentation to the selection committee. It was a wonderful experience and great to be able to talk about the nuts and bolts of footy again.<\/p>\n

"Unfortunately I missed out, and that's OK too."<\/p>\n

Laidley, who has become a symbol for the LGBTQIA+ community and a leader within it, explained why she believes there are no male footballers who identify as homosexual in the AFL<\/a>.<\/p>\n

"I don't think it's the AFL industry," she said.<\/p>\n

"I think it's the pressure of society. The burden that the person will carry. To be known as not the great, good footballer, but the great, good 'gay' footballer.<\/p>\n

\"Laidley<\/p>\n

She added: "That's a lot to deal with. At times I've felt that way myself\u2026 It might get to a stage where there might be multiple people that decide to – and I hate this word – 'come out'. It's an individual thing. It's their life and how they can be themselves.<\/p>\n

"I think the burden of that is too much. People might look at me personally and go, 'No way, I am not going near that.' There is another aspect to it as well."<\/p>\n

Laidley is committed to educating and supporting others who need it most, drawing on her experience as a trans woman in an environment that has traditionally been hyper-masculine.<\/p>\n

In her mind, she sees a future where she has connections with every football club around the country, both at the top level and down to the grassroots.<\/p>\n

Footy Classified is now available as a podcast! Subscribe\/follow via<\/strong><\/em> Apple<\/strong><\/em><\/a>,<\/strong><\/em> Spotify<\/strong><\/em><\/a> or<\/strong><\/em> Google Podcasts<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

"I've been lucky enough to present to the executive and Tanya Hosch's team (inclusion and social policy at the AFL)<\/em>," she said.<\/p>\n

"And there has been a lot going on in that team over the last few years. Hopefully, we can continue to work together.<\/p>\n

"I would love to be able to speak to each club, players, staff and whoever is necessary. Plus state league level and also at the community level, which I already am. It's about storytelling and sharing my experiences with people.<\/p>\n

"If people sit and you can get their ear, that is education in itself and they understand a little bit more. When we understand a lot more, we are a lot more supporting and accepting of people."<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Former North Melbourne coach Danielle Laidley believes her football coaching days are likely over. Laidley, who now resides in Perth, publicly stated her interest in […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":368226,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/383679"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=383679"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/383679\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":383682,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/383679\/revisions\/383682"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/368226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=383679"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=383679"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=383679"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}