Dean James Laidley, a former AFL legend, played Australian rules football both as a coach and a player, representing West Coast Eagles and North Melbourne from 1987 to 1997.
Dean, a father of three, recently underwent a gender transition and now identifies as Ms. Dani Laidley, embracing her identity as a transsexual woman. In 2020, Dani filed a complaint against the Victorian police force for breaching her privacy after releasing her image wearing a wig and makeup.
Previously married to Joanne Laidley, Dani underwent gender transition surgery in 2020, and the former couple no longer resides together. Details about Dean’s parents and siblings are not disclosed to the media, but he had mentioned his mother, Carmel Freiburg, after his arrest in 2020 on alleged stalking charges.
Joanne Laidley, born in 1967 and raised in Melbourne, Australia, is an entrepreneur and former partner of Dean, now known as Dani Laidley. The couple had three children together – a son, Kane Laidley, and two daughters, Molly and Brooke Laidley.
Currently in a romantic relationship with Donna Leckie since November 2020, Dani Laidley expresses contentment with the acceptance of her decision to transition, particularly within the AFL community.
As a former AFL legend, Dani played over 150 AFL games for North Melbourne and West Coast Eagles, also coaching 149 games with the Kangaroos. Born on March 27, 1967, in Balga, Northern Perth, Dani started his career in the Victorian Football League for the West Perth Football Club before joining the AFL.
After retiring as a professional footballer, Dani served as a coach for North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, St. Kilda, and Carlton. Her coaching debut occurred with Weston Creek in the AFL Canberra from 1998 to 2002.