North Melbourne head coach Brad Scott is in hospital being treated for a virus forcing him to miss the club’s clash with Richmond in Hobart.

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.

Scott was on his way to Melbourne Airport on Thursday when he started to feel unwell, the club said in a brief statement.

“His condition worsened in the evening and he was attended to by the club doctor before being admitted to hospital for treatment and observation,” Kangaroos director of football Geoff Walsh said.

After spending the night in hospital the club was hopeful Scott may have been able to fly south on Friday morning, but he was unfit to travel.

The club hasn’t provided any details of his symptoms.

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.