Originally scheduled for the Gold Coast, the game was moved south after the club decided their long-term future rested firmly in Melbourne.
Laidley said at his Friday morning press conference that it was crucial the club’s supporters turned up in numbers to send a message to the League.
“Look, it’s enormous for our footy club to get the supporters there for the match that we brought back from the Gold Coast. We have got over 30,000 members now and we really want them to come along and support us,” Laidley said.
“If you are not a member, come along, bring some friends, bring some family. We want to get 30 or 40,000 people there and show the AFL and the football public in general we are really here to stay.”
Laidley said one of the attractions on offer for fans was the prospect of seeing first-gamer Ben Ross in action, after his impressive form in the VFL.
“It’s a real positive for us that Ben Ross is playing his first game for us,” Laidley said.
“He’s a Gippsland boy who missed out on the national draft [of 2006] and ended up going at pick three in the pre-season (draft) and his grandfather, Max Papley, was a very good player for South Melbourne. So it’s great for our fans to see him.
“His form has been pretty good over the past few weeks and we’re really looking forward to seeing how he goes.”
Also coming back for the Roos is talented young defender Jesse Smith, who has shaken an ankle injury.
“Jess will hopefully play about 70 or 80 percent of the game, he’s another good player coming back and that’s a positive for us,” Laidley said.
“He’s had a troublesome ankle but he’s played about three or four games of footy now.
“He’s still a little bit underdone and we shouldn’t expect too much of him but it’s a real positive that he comes in at round four.”
A fast-finishing Hawthorn snatched the win from the Kangaroos last weekend and Laidley admitted there’d been plenty of mid-week discussion at Arden Street about what happened, while also planning for the Demons.
“We did some things right and there was a few things that we looked at,” Laidley said.
“I think Hawthorn have improved dramatically since we played them in that semi-final last year. They’re a very good football side.
“I thought (Melbourne's) form last week was pretty good; we’ve had some pretty good wins down at Geelong but we’ve also been on the end of a couple of hidings, and I know what it’s like.
“All sides are dangerous ... we’ve just got to make sure we do everything right in how we go about it.”
