Adelaide Crows chairman Rob Chapman says the grieving AFL club needs more time for its pain to subside.

The Crows returned to action on Saturday night in an emotional away loss to West Coast, their first outing since the alleged murder of coach Phil Walsh.

“Probably two weeks and then I’d like to think, yes, we can move on and finish this season off the way Phil wanted us to finish off,” Chapman told reporters on Sunday.

A private memorial for Walsh, allegedly stabbed to death by his 26-year-old son on July 3, will be held on Wednesday at Adelaide Oval.

The Crows are the nominal away club next Sunday against Port Adelaide, where Walsh spent large chunks of his coaching career.

Then they host Gold Coast on July 25 in the club’s first home game since Walsh’s death.

“The memorial on Wednesday … that is going to be tough,” Chapman said.

“But we do need to get up for Sunday’s game.

“And the following week is our fans’ first opportunity to come to a home game (since Walsh’s death) and share that experience with the players.”

Crows ruckman Sam Jacobs described the 56-point loss to the Eagles in Perth as “an emotional drain”.

But Jacobs said the eighth-placed Crows were determined their season won’t slip away.

“We are really firm that we want to continue his legacy on and that is playing out the season,” Jacobs told reporters on Sunday.

Adelaide’s scheduled home game last Sunday was abandoned and Chapman said returning to the field was “cathartic”.

“It was almost a public sense of grieving,” Chapman said.

“We do need to move on. We have the rest of the football season to play.

“The guys are elite athletes, they’re very professional. They have got a very big week coming up.

“We are never going to forget … but we do need to play this season out.”