Dean Laidley apologises for criticising umpires officiating in the Kangaroos' loss to Hawthorn after claiming that they had made inappropriate comments and gestures to his players and was planning to complain to AFL chief Andrew Demetriou about the matter.

Laidley says that changed his mind about the claim after football manager Donald McDonald reviewed audio of the match with AFL director of umpiring Jeff Gieschen and found nothing to substantiate the allegations.

"I was wrong to make any public statement about the umpiring in the match and accept that any concerns should have been directed to Jeff Gieschen through the normal channels," Laidley said in a statement.

"To Todd Keating, Martin Ellis, and Matthew Head, I unreservedly apologise for any inference caused by my inappropriate statements.

"I will make contact with Jeff Gieschen over the next 24-48 hours so that I arrange to speak directly to the umpires concerned."