AFL news 2023: Brett Ratten speaks about Alastair Clarkson’s return to North Melbourne after loss to the Crows

Alastair Clarkson will return to North Melbourne next week – but what does it mean for Brett Ratten? The caretaker coach opened up on the plan after the loss to the Crows.

Alastair Clarkson will return to North Melbourne next week. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

North Melbourne caretaker coach Brett Ratten is unsure exactly when he will hand the keys over to Alastair Clarkson, but he is happy to remain in the driver’s seat at Arden Street until the four-time premiership coach is ready.

In the aftermath of allegations made by First Nations players during Hawthorn’s investigation into purported cultural insensitivities, Clarkson stepped away from coaching duties to concentrate on his mental wellbeing after a heavy loss to Port Adelaide in Round 9.

He will return to the club in a part-time role next week, with no concrete plan in place for the resumption of his decorated coaching career.

Brett Ratten after Saturday’s loss to the Crows. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos

“Al will come back and be part of the footy program in some capacity, but I think the coaching part will stay with me for a little bit,” Ratten said after the Kangaroos’ 66-point loss to Adelaide on Saturday.

“Then there will be a transition period.

“That will be after a couple of weeks.

“We’ll let him get back in, meet everybody, and do all that but we’re not (saying) ‘It’s going to happen on this day and we’re going to hand the keys over’.

“It will be a bit of a transition period, so we’ll work through that.”

Clarkson has vehemently denied any wrongdoing after the allegations became public and an AFL investigation into the matter was closed without any findings made against him.

Saturday’s clash at Adelaide Oval was Ratten’s sixth in charge, with the club slumping to a 13th loss in a row after a bright first half.

Jack Ziebell has been cleared of any significant damage. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

It came on the heels of five competitive defeats, but Ratten said the Roos should no longer be content to be in the fight.

“I suppose the frustrating bit is people say, ‘You’re competitive’, well I’m sick of being competitive,” he said.

“I’m sick of being around the mark or getting close … competitive should be the norm and that’s what we’ve got to keep striving for.

“Our organisation behind the ball at some stoppages was really poor and we gave up some cheap goals.

“It should have been a bit closer at half-time than what it was, but the second half was chalk and cheese.

“We’ve got a bit of work to do.

“Whether they’re old or young (players), it doesn’t matter, we’ve got to lift our performances to make sure that that type of performance doesn’t seep into our footy club because it was disappointing.”

Jack Ziebell limped from the ground late in the clash after suffering a knock to a knee, but was cleared of any significant damage.

No match day role for Clarkson on return to North

- Jon Ralph

North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson will return to Arden Street next week but spend the next month reintegrating into the football program before taking over the reins from stand-in coach Brett Ratten.

The Roos said Clarkson would become the club’s match day senior coach again at some stage before the end of the season.

But the club is happy for him to transition back into that role over the next month as he begins working on the club’s long-term plans and list management.

Alastair Clarkson will return to North Melbourne but Brett Ratten will continue as senior coach for the next month. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

The Herald Sun revealed last week Clarkson was likely to return as senior coach after the club’s Round 18 clash against Hawthorn to allow the four-time premiership coach to dodge a match-up with his former club.

North Melbourne president Dr Sonja Hood did not put a timeline on when he would return to take up the mantle as senior coach but a month-long timeline means he would be back by around round 20 or 21.

Ratten spoke to Clarkson for 90 minutes across the bye and has been told by the Roos he will “remain as senior coach and will fulfil all the duties included in that role for the next period of time”.

The club said Clarkson’s initial focus would be around game analysis, game trends, opposition analysis and working with the coaching group on “game plan and strategy”.

Clarkson spent time working on himself after taking time away for mental health issues.

The club’s chief executive Jen Watt has denied reports Clarkson threw a chair at a wall after a heavy defeat in the week before he took time away, suggesting he might have instead tossed a water bottle at the wall to forcefully make his point to players.

North Melbourne CEO Jen Watt and President Sonja Hood. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Clarkson will not have a match-day role in the short-term future, according to Hood.

“We are pleased that Alastair has been able to get the support he needs to return to the club and work towards doing what he loves most and does best – coach the team,” Dr Hood said.

“We’ve had some really good dialogue with Alastair and we’re all comfortable he’s ready to make a return into the football department ahead of getting back in the senior coach’s chair later this season.

“In the meantime, Brett Ratten and the rest of the coaching group will continue to lead and develop the playing group.

“It’s also really important to acknowledge the work Brett, Todd Viney and the rest of the footy department have done in Alastair’s absence so that his return will be as smooth as possible.”

Originally published as AFL news 2023: Brett Ratten speaks about Alastair Clarkson’s return to North Melbourne after loss to the Crows