DEAN Laidley has been linked to the Western Bulldogs as the club sets about filling its remaining assistant coaching slot.
Although the interest is only preliminary, it is believed the Dogs will talk to former North Melbourne coach Laidley about a senior back-up role in coming days.
He is a highly-rated tactician who worked with Port Adelaide last season and remains available as the assistant coaching merry-go-round revolves at record pace.
It is understood the Dogs are also well advanced with several other candidates as new head coach Brendan McCartney builds a new-look team.
Laidley - nicknamed "Junk Yard Dog" during his playing days at North - also would be an obvious candidate to join St Kilda in a key support role if Scott Watters wins the Saints job. St Kilda is expected to name its new coach next week.
Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
Only Brett Montgomery remains at Whitten Oval from this year's coaching panel, with Rodney Eade, Peter Dean and Paul Williams gone.
Montgomery is expected to have an expanded role under McCartney and has been joined by former North Melbourne premiership player and Bendigo Bombers VFL coach Shannon Grant.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/af...-1226163345878