Revealed – Danielle Laidley: Two Tribes, a documentary celebrating one of Australia’s most talked-about figures, will premiere on 19 September, Stan announced today.
With personal archival material, including photos, journals and videos, audiences will witness Laidley’s early childhood in a working-class suburb of Perth, to her career as an elite athlete and as a renowned senior AFL coach. The documentary chronicles Laidley’s life from childhood to sports star, to her role as an advocate for the transgender community.
Laidley is best known for a highly successful men’s AFL football career, playing 151 games for the West Coast Eagles and North Melbourne football clubs, including an AFL premiership with the Kangaroos in 1996. She went on to become one of the youngest ever head coaches in the league, at 36, coaching North Melbourne for 149 games across seven seasons from 2003 to 2009, before holding other coaching roles with Port Adelaide, St Kilda and Carlton football clubs.
Billed as an ‘intimate and important story that demands to be told’, the documentary is created by Stan in conjunction with JAM TV, co-written and co-directed by Emmy award-winning Julie Kalceff (First Day) and Sam Matthews (Unboxed), with an original score by award-winning composer Charlie Chan.
‘It’s with nervous anticipation that I share my story with Australia,’ Laidley said. ‘It hasn’t been the easiest path, but I’ve made some treasured memories along the way, and met some incredible people. This story won’t pull any punches; you’ll see me at my lowest points and at my highest, surrounded by those whom I care about most who stood by me through it all. My truth is becoming an increasingly common one in today’s society, and highlights the need for greater inclusivity, understanding and acceptance.’
Revealed – Danielle Laidley: Two Tribes premieres on 19 September on Stan.
