HIGHLY-regarded former Port Adelaide assistant coach Phil Walsh is returning to the club.

Walsh, who has been at West Coast since 2009 in the role of strategy and innovations coach, returns to Alberton where he was an assistant coach from 1999 to 2008.

During his previous time at Port Adelaide, Walsh was one of the architects behind the club’s historic premiership win in 2004 and was also a key contributor in the Power’s stunning rise to the Grand Final in 2007.

Port Adelaide director of coaching and strategy Alan Richardson said the club is delighted to have Walsh return to the Power coaching panel as an assistant.

“To have such an experienced and well-credentialed coach like Phil return to our club is very exciting,” Richardson said.

“Having spent the last five seasons at such a great club like West Coast, Phil will bring a wealth of experience and fresh ideas to our coaching panel.

“And of course he already knows Port Adelaide so well having spent several seasons here before going to Perth. He played such a vital role in our club’s 2004 premiership win and also the 2007 finals campaign. We see him as a perfect fit.”

Richardson said Walsh was highly regarded at Alberton and remained friends with many of the older players.

“He spent many successful years here and some of our more experienced players like Kane Cornes and Dom Cassisi have kept in regular contact with him,” Richardson said.

“Walsh is an outstanding football person and a coach highly regarded within the football industry so we feel he can add a significant new dimension to our existing coaching structure.”

Walsh is away overseas at the moment and will not be available for comment until he returns.