KEN HINKLEY has confirmed tall forward John Butcher has viral meningitis and is recovering in hospital.

Butcher was withdrawn from the club’s SANFL squad that lost to South Adelaide after being hospitalised on Thursday night with the illness.

It came as the Power’s playing group was hit by a bout of gastroenteritis leading into Sunday night's Round 19 AFL match against Collingwood.

"John's in hospital ... unwell with viral meningitis, unfortunately," Hinkley said after Sunday's six-point loss.



"We've got a number of people around the football club who've been, unfortunately just in the last 48-72 hours, a bit ill."

Jarrad Redden, recovering from recent knee surgery, has also been hospitalised with illness.



His diagnosis is yet to be confirmed.



"We'll test him for all the same things, obviously when it's something like that [Butcher's viral meningitis], it's an obvious conclusion it may be [the same thing].

"The symptoms are very similar."

portadelaidefc.com.au will have a further update on both players as information comes to hand.