Laidley said the way the playing group handled the form slump and the criticism that came with it was a testament to their comradeship, and said the end result was the three-match winning streak the Roos now find themselves in the midst of.
"We've won three in a row now and we've been gaining a bit of momentum," Laidley said after Sunday's 12-point win at the MCG.
"We've trained extremely hard over the last five weeks and it's a full credit to the boys the way they've come out of it.
"We've copped a lot of flack and they've stuck together and we've now strung three wins together, so I'm very pleased to beat a quality side like the Bulldogs."
Laidley also revealed the club had turned to mixing up the players' normal on-field roles in a bid to turn around what had become a five-match losing streak only a month ago.
"Drew (Petrie) has been playing down back for the last few weeks and we think he's done a great job, and we'll continue to go down that road," Laidley said.
"We've tried a lot of different guys in a lot of different positions over the last three or four weeks as well, because we had to try something.
"Corey Jones has been playing a different role, Adam Simpson played a lot different role today … you bring in a couple of young kids, which they performed very well, so it's pretty pleasing."
Laidley said it took a 'great effort' for his side to defeat the Bulldogs, considering the Dogs' recent form and the fact the Roos did it with 21 men after halftime.
Tough-man Glenn Archer was the Roos' casualty, with the veteran defender leaving the field just before halftime with a dislocated shoulder. He will have scans on Monday to determine the extent of the damage, but is expected to miss at least six weeks.
"They're a very good side, the Bulldogs, and I'm just so pleased for the boys," Laidley said.
"Three wins on the trot … and to beat a terrific side like that with (the Dogs') run, being one man down, I thought was a great effort."
