Clarkson return still unclear but Roos players will be ‘delighted’

North Melbourne star Luke Davies-Uniacke says Alastair Clarkson’s uncertain return is not affecting his teammates.

Luke Davies-Uniacke says he does not know when coach Alastair Clarkson will return. Picture: Dylan Burns / Getty Images

The Kangaroos are yet to register a win without senior coach Alastair Clarkson but midfield gun Luke Davies-Uniacke says the side is growing strongly in his absence.

North Melbourne has lost all five games under caretaker coach Brett Ratten but by an average margin of just 18 points, pushing Sydney and Essendon to within a goal and only succumbing late to Collingwood and Western Bulldogs.

In all five games the Roos have been without their best midfielder Davies-Uniacke, who said he was excited to return an engine room now featuring no. 4 pick George Wardlaw, Will Phillips, and increasing bursts from Harry Sheezel.

He said Clarkson would be welcomed back into the fold “with open arms” by the players, but they were completely in the dark over when he may return.

Luke Davies-Uniacke says the Kangaroos will be able to transition seamlessly from playing under Brett Ratten to Alastair Clarkson when the senior coach returns. Picture: Steve Bell /Getty Images

“I don’t have any idea when he’s going to be coming back. Ratts is always keeping us posted with messages that he’s involved with, but there’s no word on anything at the minute,” Davies-Uniacke said.

“A lot of the boys are playing really well under Ratts and like I’ve said before, when Clarko comes back it will be no different to how we’re playing now.

“The boys are just growing in confidence, so everyone will be delighted to see him back.”

The 24-year-old ballwinner declared he was fit to return to the side after a six-week lay-off with a hamstring injury, after he began the season in scintillating form.

“(The injury) was frustrating, I obviously had a good start to the year … fell a bit out of form and I was working my way back into it, so to come up short with that hamstring was disappointing,” he said.

The powerful midfielder says he is excited to join forces with George Wardlaw, who entered the senior side in his absence. Picture: Paul Kane / Getty Images

“To see how the boys have grown now, it’s been great to watch – to see the likes of George Wardlaw, Will (Phillips), Sheezel going through the midfield now … it’s only given the opportunities in there and I’m loving watching them, but I can’t wait to play with them again.

“I’m feeling really confident in my hamstring at the minute, I hit all my markers, I came in on Friday during the bye and had a really big 12km session and got through it fine.”

He said the players had some “honest conversations” before going on break, with some individuals told they needed to perform their roles to a better standard.

“If everyone can just play their role and do it for longer, I think that will hold us in good stead,” he said.

“I think when we get a swing on sides we tend to fall short and get too complacent with where we sit in the game.

“I think that’s our biggest growth area – when we do get a run-on in a game, holding that momentum.”