The Carlton Football Club is pleased to announce that it has appointed Dean Laidley as Assistant Coach – Midfield, signing him to a two-year contract.

Laidley brings extensive coaching experience to the role, having spent the past two years as a midfield coach at St Kilda. In the two years prior to that he was an assistant coach at Port Adelaide.

The 46-year-old also has senior coaching experience, leading North Melbourne in 149 games from 2003-09 and taking the club to a preliminary final in 2007.

Laidley also enjoyed a playing career spanning 151 games, including 52 games at West Coast from 1987-92, and 99 games at North Melbourne from 1993-97. He played in the Kangaroos 1996 premiership.

Carlton’s GM-Football Operations Andrew McKay says Laidley is a terrific addition to Carlton’s coaching ranks.

“Dean has vast football experience as both a player and coach, and we believe he is the right man to take Carlton’s midfield forward over the coming years,” McKay said.

“With Dean coming on board we have been able to reshuffle our coaching structure, with John Barker and Brad Green both taking on new roles."

Carlton’s coaching structure for 2014 will now be as follows:

Michael Malthouse – Senior Coach
Rob Wiley – Director of Coaching & Development
Dean Laidley – Midfield Coach (newly appointed)
Brad Green – Forward Line Coach (new role)
John Barker – Back Line Coach (new role)