North Melbourne management are concerned for the health of AFL coach Brad Scott who has received treatment in hospital for a virus.
Scott, 40, felt unwell on his way to the airport to travel to Hobart for Friday night's game against Richmond and turned back.
"The club doctor immediately went around to see him and was concerned enough for him to be admitted to hospital where he had ongoing treatment," club chairman James Brayshaw told reporters.
After spending the night in hospital, the club was hopeful Scott might have been able to fly south on Friday morning, but he was unfit to travel.
Assistant coach Darren Crocker will take the reins in a flashback to last season when Scott spent a month away from the club recovering from back surgery.
"Darren Crocker will take over the coaching of the team tonight which will be fine - he's done it before," Brayshaw said.
"Our structures are really strong in that sense.
"But our concern is obviously with an enormously important member of our footy club family and we hope he's going to be okay."
Scott's condition has been described only as a "viral illness" and no symptoms have been revealed.
"Whenever you hear 'virus' of any type, you don't like it so it's appropriate he's where he is and getting the best treatment," Brayshaw said.
The Roos will be looking to bounce back at Bellerive Oval after their first loss of the season last round against Sydney.
With Crocker as acting head coach in 2015, the side had a two-win, two-loss record.
"Once the ball is bounced, the players know what they're doing," Brayshaw added, insisting the side would fare okay without Scott.
And the chairman couldn't offer a timeline for Scott's return.
"He's such a brutal competitor, Scotty, for him not to be here - it must be something that needs to be taken very seriously."
