Crossword Genius

Neat result perhaps comes every second (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

alternate

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'every second' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'neat result perhaps' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
an anagram of 'neat' is 'nate' which is within the answer.
The remaining letters 'alter' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

'comes' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for alternate that I've seen before include "Take turns" , "Occur in turn repeatedly" , "Change from one thing to another by turns" , "Substitute" , "Happen in turns, rotate" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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