Alastair Clarkson meeting with assistants as return from break nears

It’s getting closer but North Melbourne still can’t lock in a date for Alastair Clarkson’s return to coaching.

A return dat still hasn’t been set for North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson. Picture: Michael Klein

Alastair Clarkson was on hand watching North Melbourne training on Friday and met with all the coaches for several hours on Wednesday and Thursday as part of his looming transition back into the hot seat.

But the four-time premiership winner won’t be back from his extended break until round 20 at the earliest. A return for the round 19 clash with St Kilda has been ruled out, with North football boss Todd Viney clarifying a return date has not been locked in.

“He‘ll coach before the end of the year – whether that’s four games, five games or three games, that’s not in concrete at the moment, but he will coach before the end of the year,” Viney told SEN on Friday.

Clarkson’s stand-in, Brett Ratten, confirmed the former Hawthorn mentor had increased his meetings with his coaching staff to ensure they were all “aligned” with plans for the rest of the season.

Brett Ratten has been filling in for Alastair Clarkson. Picture: Mark Stewart

North hasn’t won a game in Clarkson’s absence and the Roos are on a 14-game losing streak, including back-to-back hidings of more than 60 points, after wins in the opening two rounds.

Ratten said the conversations with Clarkson pointed to a return sooner rather than later, although he conceded an actual return date was unclear.

“He’s caught up with the coaches on-site and away from here. Today he was watching training, which is great,” Ratten said on Friday.

“He’s really picking up the pace and getting back to get a feel for what’s happening and putting his imprint on what we need to do as a team.

“It could be three weeks or it could be five weeks (before he returns). It’s good to see him around and a part of it.

“We just need to keep filtering him in to all parts to the footy club.”

Ratten said his team was searching for four-quarter consistency, the absence of which has been a key contributor to the run of losses.

“It feels like we say those most games,” he said.

“That’s what we are trying to search for, how we can be consistent in games. We’ll keep trudging on trying to get that right.”