North Melbourne have confirmed senior coach Alastair Clarkson will make his coaching return in Round 21 when the Kangaroos face Melbourne.
Clarkson has been absent from his duties as senior coach since Round 9 after the club and the four-time premiership mentor agreed he would take leave to focus on his health and well-being.
Assistant Brett Ratten has since taken on the coaching role for North Melbourne and will continue to do so until the conclusion of Round 20 when the Roos face West Coast.
Clarkson has already made his return to Arden Street this month following a period of work from home while Ratten leads the playing group with the help of his fellow assistants.
The club confirmed on Wednesday that Clarkson will take back the reins in August before the Roos and Demons clash in Tasmania.
โWe're so pleased that Alastair can return to the role of senior coach. The time away was critical for Alastair to address his physical and mental health and it's obvious to everyone that he's hungry and ready to resume his place as our senior coach,โ North Melbourne CEO Jennifer Watt said in a club statement.
โAlastair, and indeed the whole club, has been incredibly grateful to Brett Ratten and the entire coaching group, for stepping up in his absence.
โWe have been very purposeful with Alastair's return and integration back into the program to ensure a seamless transition for our playing group and to provide Alastair with the time to reacquaint himself with both the game and the program.
โI'd like to reiterate the club's thanks to Brett, Todd Viney, and all the players and staff at the club for the hard work they've done while Alastair has been away.
โOur members and supporters also deserve great credit for the way they have stuck by the club over what has been a really trying period.โ
Clarkson will shadow the club's football program next week but will remain in Melbourne as the team flies over to Perth to face West Coast in what will be Ratten's final game as caretaker coach.
North Melbourne will face Ratten's former club St Kilda at Marvel Stadium this Sunday at 4:40pm (AEST).
