Port coach numb at Walsh death

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says he's numb at the alleged murder of his friend and AFL foe, Phil Walsh.

Power coach Ken Hinkley.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says he's numb at the alleged murder of his friend Phil Walsh. (AAP)

Numb at the death of friend and AFL foe Phil Walsh, Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says beating Collingwood isn't on his mind.

Walsh, who worked as an assistant to Hinkley at Port last season, was allegedly murdered by his son last Friday.

Hinkley says how he and Port react to Walsh's death in Thursday night's home match against Collingwood is a great unknown.

"It feels like you don't want to talk about the game," Hinkley told reporters on Wednesday.

"But it's part of what we do ... we need to have a good solid performance.

"But there's some other things right now that have made that a little bit difficult to clearly see. It hasn't been as focused.

"Look, I'll tell you, it hasn't been big on my mind."

Hinkley said playing the Magpies could prove a welcome relief for him and his grieving players.

"Maybe game day, those couple of hours that we get, allow us to stay in a different place for a while - which perhaps will be a good thing," he said.

But maybe not.

"I don't know what to expect. I don't know what to expect from our team, from any team. It's the unknown," Hinkley said.

Describing himself as "numb" at Walsh's death, Hinkley said he found it difficult to talk about.

"I'm no different to anyone else, I don't think. I'm a bit numb," he said.

"It's not about me. It's about (Walsh's wife) Meredith and the family."

But Hinkley said he had reflected on his time with the 55-year-old Walsh, who was in his first year as head coach of the Adelaide Crows.

"I have. And I still am," Hinkley said.

"And I get constant reminders unfortunately.

"But at some stage, like the rest of us, we'll find a way."


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Source: AAP


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