Concerns remain over the health of Alastair Clarkson as he nears a return to AFL coaching with North Melbourne

Interim Kangaroos coach Brett Ratten and outstanding AFL journalist Caroline Wilson are each adamant Clarkson will lead the crew once more this season, however there nonetheless seems to be no agency timeline for that to occur.

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Clarkson returned to North final month after an prolonged break following his implication within the Hawthorn racism scandal.

But Wilson stated on Channel 9’s Footy Classified the four-time premiership-winning coach nonetheless isn’t able to take over the North reins.

“I think there’s still real concern about his physical and mental wellbeing,” she stated.

“He will be back when everyone is absolutely certain he’s ready.”

North Melbourne are experiencing one other dreadful marketing campaign, caught on two wins for the season and driving a 15-game shedding streak.

Wilson made the damning remark that the hypothesis over Clarkson was the one subject protecting the membership related.

“The only thing keeping them relevant is Alastair Clarkson and the prospect of when he returns, which will be in the next few weeks,” she stated.

“It’s a weird situation isn’t it … I think the North view is he’s either coaching or he’s not coaching. You can’t have both parents there at the same time.

“So when Brett Ratten is coach, he won’t have Alastair in the coaches box.

“Alastair has really barely been at the club, except as a cameo performance here and there.

“He’s started to talk again to the senior coaches. He’s looking at younger players, he’s done a lot of opposition scouting.

“Everyone says he’s a lot better, which is great.

“(But) he certainly won’t coach this week. North are still unprepared to say what day it will be (when he returns).

“It could be round 20, it could be round 21. It will definitely be by round 22 and it’s a very strange situation.”

Ratten will lead the aspect once more this weekend towards St Kilda, the membership that sacked him as senior coach final 12 months.

Speaking on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 this week, Ratten stated Clarkson is progressively ramping up his involvement with the Kangaroos.

“I’m not privy to exactly when he’s going to come back,” Ratten stated.

“But these are stepping stones each time we catch up and talk and where it looks like next week or in a few days’ time.

“But he’s had a catch up with the coaches the other night, we all sat around and talked footy, he had some ideas, we implemented some of the things.

“So yeah, he’s still part of the group.”

Asked if it will be value Clarkson teaching the crew once more in 2023, Ratten replied: “I think he will. I think he’ll be coaching North Melbourne by the end of the year.”