PHIL WALSH was an intense and passionate character whose love for the game deserved to be witnessed by the football world as a senior coach, says Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas.

As the passing of the Adelaide coach shocked South Australia on Friday morning, the Crows were joined in mourning by Port Adelaide, West Coast and Geelong – where he had been an assistant coach before stepping into the most senior club role.

STATEMENT: Phil Walsh remembered

It was at Alberton that Walsh spent much of his coaching career; as an assistant to Mark Williams from 1999 to 2008 and then Ken Hinkley as midfield manager in 2014.

His sudden defection to Port’s cross town rival Adelaide after the 2014 season stunned local football circles, and it was there he was able to demonstrate the value he could bring to the game as a senior coach.

It was to Keith Thomas’s “great discomfort” that from the very first days of Walsh’s senior coaching tenure at West Lakes, it was clear the popular Port figure was “flourishing” as the new principal of the Crows.

But he says footy was better for Walsh getting the top job at Adelaide.

“I wondered about that transition from great assistant to senior coach, given the conversations we’d had, it wasn’t a burning ambition for most of his career,” Thomas said on Friday afternoon.

“He was thriving in this role [at the Crows], he was embracing the club and the media, and he was bringing a lot to the game.

“In that very short amount of time, he showed us what he was and what he could’ve been.

“It would have been a great pity for [us] not to have seen it.”

Walsh was a premiership assistant coach in 2004 and masterminded Port Adelaide’s midfield structures under Williams, working with some of Port’s best and brightest like Travis Boak, Kane Cornes, Dom Cassisi, Roger James and Josh Carr.

He had a relationship with Brad Ebert at both West Coast and the Power, and helped develop midfielders like Ollie Wines in his final year at Port.

Thomas said "intensity" was a trait of both his personality and coaching style, but it was Walsh's passion for the game that was always clear.

“The Port Adelaide family has had a great relationship with Phil Walsh. He's made a tremendous contribution to our club over two stints,” Thomas said.

“He brought a great intellect to the coaching profession, great passion.

“Think about coaches and the relationship they have with players – they are highly influential on the way in which these young guys develop into men. He played that role, so he’s had a profound effect, certainly not only on our club and the Adelaide club [but] all clubs he’s been involved with.

“When he came back [from West Coast] he had such an intensity and yet there was a humour behind it as well.

“His natural style was really the thing that I’ll remember: a great intensity and passion for the game.”

Phil Walsh at a Port Adelaide training session in 2014 [pic: portadelaidefc.com.au]

Alberton to support West Lakes

Not unlike the passing of former Power and Crows assistant Dean Bailey in 2014, Port Adelaide will work with their local rival on a suitable tribute to Walsh.

While the Showdown to be played in two weeks seems a logical opportunity, the rawness of the present may prevent that fixture from featuring a commemoration for his memory.

Thomas says Port will be led by Adelaide, as well as Walsh's family, in preparing any joint tribute.

“We’ll be talking to Adelaide about that, I don’t know what that looks like… Right now nothing feels right.

“[The Showdown] is the obvious point in the calendar, it feels too soon today. Two weeks is a long time … we’ll be guided by Adelaide.”

Port Adelaide will provide its players with ongoing support through club and AFL counsellors and psychological support as required.

Both Thomas and Crows chief executive Andrew Fagan spoke on Friday of the unique environment football clubs can provide to players and officials when tragedy strikes.

As with Bailey’s passing, Port Adelaide will continue to support the Adelaide Crows where it can.

“We’re thinking about the Adelaide Football Club, we’re familiar with what they’re going through, I spoke to Andrew Fagan this morning first thing, and offered our support, and we’ll do whatever we can to help them through … it’s a very difficult time," Thomas said.

“We are providing as much support as we can to our own playing group.

“Some of them are a little older and had experience with Phil in his first stint with Port Adelaide and some of the boys are in the midfield and had a lot to do with him last year, so there’s been a variety of reactions.

“There’s an overall feeling of sadness.”

Tributes transcend rivalry

Tributes have flowed from across the football world in support of those clubs most affected by Walsh’s passing, particularly those in South Australia.

Port Adelaide supporters have left their own tributes to Walsh among Crows symbols at AAMI Stadium.

Thomas said it was appropriate for all supporters to express themselves in such a way.

“There are things that transcend the natural rivalries. This is one of them,” Thomas said.

“Phil was a loved member of our family as well. They’re nice gestures, it’s an appropriate thing to do.”

The hashtags #RIPPhilWalsh and #putyourscarfout have detailed the tributes for Walsh and condolences for his family and friends on social media.

A physical shrine of tributes has been erected at AAMI Stadium from many Crows and a number of Port Adelaide supporters.

SANFL games postponed

The SANFL has agreed to postpone Port Adelaide and Adelaide's SANFL games scheduled for Saturday.

The Magpies were slated to play North Adelaide at Prospect while the Crows were due to play South at Noarlunga. 

The games will now be played on the weekend of 8-9 or 15-16 August, in what was originally scheduled to be a split round.

All six teams competing in remaining matches over the weekend will wear black armbands as a mark of respect for Walsh

SANFL: Magpies v Roosters postponed