Jeremy Laidler Biography

Sydney has received a "please explain" letter from the AFL about runner Jeremy Laidler's actions in the dying minutes of the Swans' nail-biting win against North Melbourne.

Vision of Sunday's game at Etihad Stadium shows Laidler barely left the centre square during the final two minutes, when the Swans successfully held on for a six-point victory.

AFL football operations manager Steve Hocking confirmed on Tuesday the League had sought an explanation from the Swans on Laidler's conduct, but said it was hardly an isolated case.

"In fairness to Jeremy, it's unfair that he's actually been highlighted to the level he has been. We could probably send out 18 (letters) a weekend," Hocking said.

After a career spanning three clubs in Geelong, Carlton and Sydney, Jeremy Laidler retires from football to become a development coach with the Swans.

"Coming into the AFL system, I wasn't sure if my career would last two years, so I feel really fortunate to have played for 10. Although it was a rollercoaster along the way, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at all three clubs," Laidler said.

"This year I did some work with the Sydney Swans Academy and I loved my time there, so to be given this opportunity by the Swans I am very grateful and excited by the challenge."

Jeremy Laidler undergoes surgery on his left elbow and is expected to miss at least the next month of training.

"He's had a grumbly elbow which presented in mid-December, and upon further investigation, there was some loose bodies and some arthritic aspects to the joint," Swans head of football Tom Harley said.

"We'll see how he recovers fro the surgery but he'll certainly be out of action for up to six weeks.

"It's disappointing for 'Laids' as he was having a solid pre-season up until that point, but he's in good spirits."

Tom Lynch draws the ire of Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade after being reported in the dying minutes of the Suns' 38-point loss to Sydney for punching the stomach of Swans defender Jeremy Laidler.

"From our point of view it was totally undisciplined from a leader," Eade said.

"He's been spoken to, so he knows, and certainly he knew tonight. It's not acceptable, it's not acceptable, especially as a leader."

Jeremy Laidler signs a new deal with Sydney to remain at the club until the end of 2018.

Jeremy Laidler says he wants to take over the attacking role at the Swans left vacant by the retirement of premiership backman Rhyce Shaw.

"I'm trying to bring that (run) into my game. I've been practicing it through the pre-season because the amount of drive and type of footy that Rhyce Shaw created was really noticeable," he said.

Laidler says he doesn't even consider himself a lock in the Swans' best 22, and has earmarked leadership as another area to work on.

"I can't get comfortable with where I'm at, I've still got to look to improve," he said.

"I'm not even sure I'll keep my spot. I still have to keep working hard because there's a lot of young blokes coming through, which is good.

"I like to speak up at training and games – I hope the boys listen – and I try and deliver with my actions as well."

Jeremy Laidler says the pain of being dropped for the 2014 finals series is the driving force behind his best season of footy in 2015.

"That's the main goal. We all want to play at that time of year, I was a bit disappointed to miss out, and that was a big driver for me this year, I didn't want that to happen again," Laidler said.

"I had to work on a few things over the pre-season which I've done, and now I've slowly been cementing my spot in the side.

"Confidence is massive in footy I reckon, and to have the belief of the players and coaches around you and not have question marks on whether you're going to play in the ressies or the AFL, it gives you a lot of belief."

Jeremy Laidler joins the Sydney Swans as a delisted free agent.

Frustrated with the lack of opportunities at Carlton, Jeremy Laidler says he is looking forward to a fresh start at a new club.

"It's hard to comprehend how things have gone this year, but if I get another opportunity, I can't wait to start afresh again," Laidler said.

"I've still got a lot to offer, and a lot to prove. I've got a lot of footy left in me, the body's really good, and I'm really determined to get back to playing the way I was last year and the year before."

Laidler says being asked by Blues coach Mick Malthouse to play as a forward unsettled him as a player.

"Mick said, 'I want you to go back (to the VFL) and play forward.' That was a bit of a shock. I'm not complaining; it just wasn't the ideal situation to have at the start of a season because then I had to basically go back to square one and get my head around something different," he said.

"I went and spoke to Mick and said, 'I just don't see myself getting a game at this football club as a forward. Can I go back to playing down back and try to prove myself there again?' From there, I had a few good performances.

"It's good to be flexible enough to play in other positions, but I see myself mainly as a backman."

Jeremy Laidler informs the Blues he will be seeking a new club in 2014 after struggling to get a game under coach Mick Malthouse.

"In Jeremy's meeting he expressed that he would like to look for an opportunity at another club and we respect and support his decision to do so," Blues football operations manager Andrew McKay said.

Carlton defender Jeremy Laidler is set for knee surgery, ending his season.

Laidler injured his knee in the second quarter of the Northern Blues' game against Geelong in the VFL at Visy Park.

"This is obviously extremely disappointing for Jeremy, particularly after the hard work he has just completed to return to playing," Blues football manager Andrew McKay said.

"He is a very important player and has been very positive around the club in the last few weeks as he prepared for the last half of the season."

Jeremy Laidler will return from injury in the VFL this weekend with an eye to tackling Hawthorn in round 14 after working hard on his rehabilitation with teammate Andrew Carazzo.

"I've basically done another pre-season for eight weeks, and he (Carrazzo) pushed me along, which was good," Laidler said.

"Andy's a great runner and I tried to stay with him, which was very tough. I was so rapt for him last week because I know he did everything he possibly could to get himself up to scratch in the AFL."

Carlton has been fined $7,500 by the AFL for tweets by injured players Marc Murphy, Jarrad Waite and Jeremy Laidler that were critical of umpires during the Blues' clash with West Coast.

"The AFL will not tolerate public denigration or humiliation of umpires as we continue to face very real problems with the retention of umpires throughout Australia," general manager football operations Adrian Anderson said.

"A player's use of social media to make comments around umpiring will be subject to the AFL's rules in exactly the same way as comments made in a formal interview or any other media environment, as the AFL competition must continue to set a positive example on conduct towards umpires."

Carlton defender Jeremy Laidler is expected to miss up to six weeks after dislocating his kneecap during a marking duel with Will Minson of the Bulldogs in their NAB Cup clash.

In three seasons at Geelong, Jeremy Laidler did not play a final but all that changed on Sunday when the Blues defeated the Bombers by 62 points in an elimination final at the MCG.

"Coming from Geelong, I always filled up the numbers at training during all their finals series, so it's good to get the reward of playing in a final," Laidler said.

Cats recruiting manager Stephen Wells says Geelong will try to retain defender Jeremy Laidler, who has been targeted by Carlton.

"It's fair to say Carlton have been interested in Jeremy for a couple of years. They brought his name up at last year's trade period as well," Wells said.

"This year they brought his name up at the start of the week and through his management they've convinced him that he should go. He's received a good contract offer from Carlton and we do respect that. It's not a total surprise."

Geelong has traded defender Jeremy Laidler and NAB AFL Draft pick 41 to Carlton for draft picks 36 and 53.

"We are obviously disappointed to lose Jeremy as we considered him to be a required player," Geelong football manager Neil Balme said.

"Jeremy considered the Carlton offer of a longer contract and more opportunities to be right for him."