Port Adelaide assistant Phillip Walsh is firming in the race for the senior coaching position at Adelaide, with an announcement on Brenton Sanderson's replacement expected early next week.

Although the highly respected Walsh has kept a low profile while being courted by the Crows, he is understood to be a front-runner. Former Adelaide defender Nathan Bassett has dropped out of contention, with Hawthorn's Brendon Bolton expect to conduct a second interview at the weekend.

Should Walsh, who returned to Alberton this season after working as West Coast's strategy and innovations coach, cross town the senior appointment would prove something of a bombshell given he has never been mentioned as a candidate.

Sydney assistant and former Port and Hawthorn premiership player Stewart Dew was a fourth candidate.

Shortly after sacking Sanderson, chairman Rob Chapman said the club wanted a coach with premiership experience.

Bolton has worked under Alastair Clarkson in Hawthorn's back-to-back premierships and coached the club for five games for five wins when Clarkson was ill this season.

Walsh is regarded as playing a pivotal role in Port Adelaide's first and only AFL premiership in 2004. He rejoined the club towards the end of last year.

Should Walsh win the role it would be the second time in 10 months that Port coach Ken Hinkley has lost a key assistant, with Alan Richardson quitting the club last November to take the top job at St Kilda.



