PORT Adelaide will suffer a "massive loss" if Phil Walsh joins the Adelaide Crows, according to newly crowned Power club champion Robbie Gray.
Walsh, who is in the first of a three-year deal with the Power, attended Port's best and fairest presentation on Friday night but is firming as the man to replace Brenton Sanderson at West Lakes.
He will reportedly pitch his case to the Crows' board for the vacant role on Sunday.
Walsh is widely regarded as possessing one of the football world's most advanced tactical minds and Gray said his departure would leave a significant hole at Alberton.
"I heard of it tonight, a bit earlier," Gray said.
"Walshy has been massive for us this year, he took over our midfield and he takes our leadership meeting and he does quite a bit around the club so he'd be a massive loss.
"He's as tactically as good as they come in the AFL … I have no doubt he could take on a head coaching position.
"We definitely don't want to lose him at Alberton, we hope he stays."
Should Walsh join Port's arch rival it would be the second poaching of a senior Power assistant in as many years, after Alan Richardson was appointed St Kilda coach late last season.
As difficult as it was to lose such talented men, Gray said it spoke volumes for how far his club had come in recent seasons.
"Other clubs are now looking at our club and what we're doing well and trying to take our people away," he said.
"I suppose it’s a good thing for a club and a bad thing as well."
Gray also insisted he wouldn't think any less of Walsh if he walked out on the Power to coach the Crows in his own right.
"If their ambition is to be a senior coach, then obviously you wouldn't hold any grudges," he said.
"We'd miss him a lot, as we miss 'Richo', but someone else will come in and do a job – we'd prefer to keep him."
