Still a no.

Athena to associate with boy, but can’t be neutral about it (9)

_ a _ _ a _ _ o _

3 charades for 3 lots of 3.

No… but you have ⅓ correct.

Athena to associate with boy, but can’t be neutral about it (9)

_ a L _ a _ _ o _

3 charades for 3 lots of 3.

Additional clue: one of the charades is:

boy

Yes.

Athena to associate with boy, but can’t be neutral about it (9)

to associate with [charade: pal]

boy [charade: lad]
but can’t be neutral about it [charade: ion]
pal+lad+ion

WHOLE DEFINITION

Athena = Palladion

Over to you, Master* Cryptician nfs.

(Qualification, not gender attribution.)

murmur

For some reason, I’m now craving my famous Dr Oetker recipe rum balls.

Nobody’s perfect: say quietly “Enough rope”. (9)