Donna Leckie is known as the partner of Danielle Laidley, who was born Dean Laidley and was a former Australian rules football player and coach.
Laidley played in the Australian Football League (AFL) from 1987 to 1997 for North Melbourne’s 1996 premiership team and West Coast Eagles. From 2003 to 2009, she worked as North Melbourne’s coach.
Laidley began his football career at the West Perth Football Club in the West Australian Football League. In 1987, he was recruited to join the West Coast Eagles’ inaugural VFL team.
Who Is Danielle Laidley’s Wife Donna Leckie?
Leckie is a chief operating officer at Compatible Care Nursing Services, and she is a highly regarded aged care specialist and has experience of more than two decades. She is known as the partner of Daniella Laidley.
The pair have known each other since their childhood. They were childhood partners in primary and high school; the couple reconnected in 2017 and started dating recently.
In January 2022, Laidley showed a possible wedding ring in a video that she posted on her Instagram; in the video, she showed her hand with a shocked face, and she even captioned, “What just happened ? Oh my god”.
She was also seen wearing the ring after several weeks in the pictures she posted on her social media.
Danielle Laidley’s Gender Dysphoria Story
Laidley was formally diagnosed with gender dysphoria five years ago, but her transition began only in 2020. She had explained how hard it was to live with gender dysphoria and how it involved more complicated emotions.
It was difficult for her as she knew how she felt different from the inside from what she portrayed outside. She even started to play league football in high school to have a persona. She felt scared, ashamed, and embarrassed to discover who she was but knew she was different.
It hasn’t been easy for Laidley as she has been called names and has become a target of internet trolls, and most of her family hasn’t accepted her new identity. Still, she feels happy about her decision about her gender transition.
She feels about her position as a role model in the transgender community.
Laidley’s identity as a female became public when she was arrested in 2020, and the police officers leaked pictures of her wearing a wig and make-up.
Danielle Laidley’s Net Worth
No authentic sites have confirmed Laidley’s net worth. She collected her wealth from her football career.
At Subiaco Oval, Laidley made her VFL debut for the West Coast Eagles against Richmond in Round 1 in 1987. She was known as a “Junkyard Dog” as she was an aggressive half-back line player and was renowned for her dedication to the game and winning the ball.
Laidley was traded to North Melbourne around the end of 1992. Her use of the strategy of either kicking out or receiving unopposed a short kick-out to the back pocket, later widely used by other clubs, became a trademark of her performance.
Laidley began coaching after leaving the AFL, debuting with the Weston Creek team in the AFL Canberra competition. Laidley was appointed to replace Denis Pagan as the Kangaroos’ senior coach for the 2003 season when Pagan resigned from the position.
Laidley started working as a coach with the Port Adelaide Football Club in September 2009. He was appointed as the St. Kilda Football Club’s new midfield coach at the beginning of November 2011.
On October 31, 2013, Laidley joined Carlton as an assistant coach for the midfield. Later he left Carlton in 2015 after Brendon Bolton was hired.