Pratt has not played an AFL game since round 20 last year, but after a string of strong performances for North Ballarat will be seriously considered for the Roos' clash with Adelaide on Saturday night.
The 27-year-old was listed as an emergency last weekend ahead of a 29-possession game against Frankston - which included a half on a wing - and said he was now over the fitness concerns that had kept Scott from selecting him.
"A lot of the time you don't think the coaches are right by making you go back and do your time in the VFL, but I think that's the best thing that could have happened for me, just to get that fitness and confidence back," Pratt told afl.com.au.
"It's probably showed in my footy in the last couple of weeks, being confident in my body and being able to compete really hard."
Pratt suffered successive hamstring and groin injuries throughout the pre-season, and struggled with form at stages of the NAB Cup/Challenge competition.
He felt at the time that he could have played in North's season opener against Port Adelaide, but knows now that he was some way off where he needed to be.
"If you don't play 100 per cent fit these days, you put yourself at risk of not performing or getting injured, especially with leg stuff, and that's what I've had," he said.
However, Pratt admitted to some frustration in recent months, where he has drifted further from the player who finished third in the club's best and fairest count in 2007 and was comfortably its best rebounding defender for two years.
Hampered in part by a knee injury, he played 14 games in 2009 but not since his debut season with the Brisbane Lions (2004) has he started the year out of the senior side.
"You make your mark at the club and you perform well and all of a sudden it hits a brick wall," Pratt said.
"You have a few injuries and a few little incidents and you're back behind the eight ball and guys go past you. It's tough at times.
"When you start getting some momentum again, to get back in the side's really difficult. We've got a young list that's performed pretty well and has started to get some consistency.
"It's been hard to break in. Hopefully I can keep playing well ... and get my chance."
Pratt said he couldn't have asked any more of Scott, who has publicly backed his player's AFL prospects in the last month and also given him valuable support away from the spotlight.
He added that the coach's direction had been clear and a better off-field balance had encouraged him to enjoy his football more, albeit in the VFL.
"People start asking questions [in the media] and people ask me when I'm getting a game," Pratt said.
"He (Scott) hasn't bowed to the pressure of people saying anything. He's really just stuck to his guns and said, 'No, you've got to get fit' and that's what I'm doing.
"I'm sure he'd be happy with [my] performances."
