season. In her first two years, the team finished 10th. She coached the Kangaroos to the finals for her first time as coach in the 2005 season, but the club was defeated by Port Adelaide in an elimination final. In the 2006 season they regressed and finished 14th. Laidley's ferocity as a player transferred into her coaching style, with her team said to embody the "Shinboner Spirit" of determination and never giving up. She was also seen on occasion to be aggressive towards her playing group. Laidley took North Melbourne to the finals for the second time in 2007. At the end of 2007, her contract was due for renewal. Despite Melbourne Football Club making advances to secure her as coach, Laidley's contract with North Melbourne was renewed for two years. She took North Melbourne to the finals again in 2008. After a mid-season review in 2009 and following a string of losses, Laidley resigned as senior coach of North Melbourne on 16 June 2009, one round before what would have been her 150th game as coach. Laidley was replaced by assistant coach Darren Crocker as caretaker senior coach of North Melbourne for the rest of the 2009 season. Port Adelaide career (2010–2011) In September 2009, Laidley joined the coaching group at the Port Adelaide Football Club. After one season as an assistant to Mark Williams and later Matthew Primus, Laidley announced that she would return to Melbourne in 2011 for family reasons, but said she was available to work as an opposition scout and analysis based in Melbourne for Port Adelaide. However, on 27 October 2010, Port Adelaide announced that she would continue on as an assistant coach based four days in Adelaide and three days in Melbourne a week in the 2011 season. She interviewed for the Essendon Football Club senior coach position when it was left vacant by the sacking of Matthew Knights but was unsuccessful. St Kilda career (2011–2013) In early November 2011, Laidley was announced as the new midfield coach of the St Kilda Football Club. Of the move, St Kilda's head of football, Chris Pelchen, said that Laidley: "has a wealth of knowledge as a former player and coach in his own right. His experience will genuinely assist the development of the whole player list at the Saints." Carlton career (2013–2015) Laidley signed with Carlton as midfield assistant coach on 31 October 2013. With