Simpson and Pratt have emerged as the senior players involved in a YouTube video depicting sex acts with a rubber chicken – deemed offensive by AFL general manager football operations Adrian Anderson and North chief executive Eugene Arocca on Wednesday.
Simpson and Pratt also expressed their regret of the prank on Channel 9's The Footy Show on Wednesday night.
Laidley conceded it had been a "huge distraction" in his preparations for round three and didn't rule out omitting Simpson and Pratt from Thursday afternoon's squad.
"We don't know if Adam and Daniel are going to play, to be quite honest," he said. "We'll need to assess where they're at.
"It's thrown a bit of a spanner in the works in regard to our team selection. But we'll work closely with those guys and [if] they're fit to play, they'll play. If not, we'll have to look at some changes.
"The boys who have been involved have been in some pretty dark places this week and that's understandable. They're feeling the pain themselves personally, for their teammates and for the footy club."
Though reluctant to speak about the video, the club’s prospective discipline of its players and why Simpson and Pratt didn't come forward earlier, Laidley defended them.
"They know and certainly understand what they have done but believe me they’re good people," Laidley said.
"I have known Adam Simpson since he was 17 years of age. He has been a fantastic ambassador for our football club [and] for our major sponsor in Mazda.
"He has made one mistake now which is not a fatal mistake. I am sure he is going to learn from it.
"He's a wonderful family man. He's got great kids and a great wife. It's a shame to see him portrayed in this light from a mistake."
Laidley said he had little to do with the club's handling of the episode but added that he'd seen the video.
"My job this week's been to counsel and make sure the rest of the playing group has been really focused," he said. "And make sure we're ready to play on Sunday.
"I've certainly been talking to those boys and (chief of football) Donald (McDonald) spent some time with them both last night (Wednesday) in regard to the rules and regulations and processes of the AFL."
However, Laidley didn't believe he'd struggle to get his side mentally ready to take on the Hawks.
"I've got a list in my back pocket which is a mile long with things like that (off-field stories) that have happened since I've been coaching this footy club," he said. "This is just another chapter."
Laidley also defended North's handling of the issue in the past 24 hours.
"I think we have been as open and transparent as we possibly can," he said. "I think the club’s done a fantastic job with the way they have gone about it."
Arocca said on Wednesday that the entire squad was responsible for the video but hadn't planned to sanction any players for their part.
Daniel Harris, Corey Jones and Shannon Watt are among senior players looking to break into the line-up.
