FORMER North Melbourne coach Dean Laidley has joined the Port Adelaide coaching panel as an assistant coach.

Laidley, 42, will focus on strategy and innovation with the Power, and have a match day coaching role with the midfield alongside Matthew Primus.

Laidley coached North Melbourne in 148 matches from 2003 to mid-2009, his team playing finals in three of his final four completed seasons in charge.

He played 151 games for West Coast and North Melbourne, including in the Kangaroos 1996 premiership side, and was an assistant coach with Collingwood prior to coaching North Melbourne.

Laidley has been appointed for two years.

Laidley’s appointment completes the Power coaching panel for 2010, with Primus and fellow assistant Jason Cripps recently having recommitted to the club for a further two years, and Adam Kingsley already contracted.

The Power has also re-signed 10 un-contracted players in the last couple of months, putting lie to media reports of discontent at the club.

Un-contracted players to have recommitted to the Power include Chad Cornes, Troy Chaplin, Alipate Carlile, David Rodan, Jacob Surjan, Warren Tredrea, Danyle Pearce, Michael Pettigrew, Tom Logan and Matthew Lobbe.