A "very flat" West Coast is still grieving the death of former assistant coach Phil Walsh, coach Adam Simpson says.

Simpson said the players had an emotional release after their win over Melbourne on Saturday night but there was a different feel about the group.
 
"They were very flat at the breaks and before the game but they got the job done," Simpson said.
 
"There was a distinctly different feel tonight."
 
Simpson said the club emphasised to players and staff that they would all deal with Walsh's death in different ways and there was no right or wrong way to cope.
 
He said he imagined the players would have mentally drifted in and out of their normal routine in the build-up as their thoughts turned to Walsh.
 
"He was with us for five years Phil, so there were some close personal relationships with our players and our staff. They're still grieving," Simpson said.
 
He said he had not given any thought to next week's game but knew the clubs involved would face challenges.
 
"We have to take it one day at a time," Simpson said.
 
After the game West Coast ruckman Nic Naitanui said news of the Adelaide coach's death stunned the Eagles players and a numb feeling set in at the hotel where they were staying.
 
"The coaches decided to get us all in and tell us the news," Naitanui said.
 
"We just got together and said everyone [will] grieve in different ways and to get around each other."
 
Naitanui said the game against Adelaide in Perth will be a chance for both clubs to pay homage to Walsh and what he did for football and for the people at the respective clubs.
 
"Obviously Adelaide will be playing on a lot of heart next week," Naitanui told AFL.com.au.
 
"Walshy was close to both our team and them as well."
 
The 24-year-old was drafted to the club in 2008 and his first season coincided with Walsh's first season at the Eagles in 2009.
 
Naitanui said Walsh played a huge role in dragging the club back from a wooden spoon to a preliminary final and his thoughts were with everyone connected to Walsh.
 
"Our thoughts are with everyone," Naitanui said.
 
Melbourne coach Paul Roos echoed those thoughts and said sometimes words don't do justice when such an event happens.
 
"It's really difficult. It puts everything in perspective," Roos said.