The Sydney Swans ran all over the Kangaroos in the second half to set up a semi-final with the Western Bulldogs.
However, Laidley’s men must look ahead to 2009 after their season again ended short of an elusive grand final berth.
Last year the Kangaroos went a couple of steps further, reaching a preliminary final.
But the coach felt his 2008 side was a superior version to the one that came one match short of playing off for the AFL’s grandest prize.
“If you’re talking about premierships, and let’s face it, that’s what we’re here to do, I would have thought we’re closer this year than we were last year,” Laidley said.
“When we walked off after preliminary final day [last year] I thought, ‘Hmm, we’re a ways off it’.”
Laidley said the continued improvement of his squad, along with the addition of some promising youngsters, had added extra potency to the Kangaroos this season.
The coach believed that with a fit Hamish McIntosh at his disposal – the ruckman was injured for much of the year – and more depth on his list, his team might have been capable of challenging had it given itself a greater opportunity.
“You know [Lachlan] Hansen and [Scott] McMahon [have been good] and [Ed] Lower was terrific tonight and [Matt] Campbell and [Lindsay] Thomas, they’ve won us games off their own boot and I think that’s been a real step forward for us.”
However, on Saturday night it all came to a thudding halt for the Kangaroos.
Laidley said his side’s disappointing second half – in which the Swans booted 13 goals to five – was a direct result of his men not being able to get their “hands on the ball in tight”.
“[It’s] pretty simple … first half contested ball, I think we were probably four in front,” Laidley said.
“Second half [was] 50 to 70. [You] can’t do that against any team in the competition, let alone the Swans.”
North Melbourne might not have found itself in an elimination final had it won a match many expected it to in round 22 against Port Adelaide.
But the Kangaroos lost their final three matches for the season – against Geelong, Port Adelaide and, finally, the Swans.
Laidley hinted that his team’s big effort against the Cats in round 21 might have taken it out of his men in the final weeks of the season.
“We’ve worked really hard and to have the results over the last three weeks [is disappointing],” Laidley said.
“Our two worst performances came off the weeks after we played the premiers from last year, with six-day breaks.
“Can you stick your finger on there? Perhaps not.
“We’ve played some pretty good footy at certain stages during the year. Other times we were ordinary.”
