WEST Coast ruckman Scott Lycett hasn't ruled himself out of contention for the Eagles' looming crunch match against Geelong after getting through his comeback game from a dislocated shoulder unscathed.
In a successful first appearance after undergoing surgery in March, Lycett played about 75 per cent game time in East Perth's thumping 46-point WAFL win over arch-rival West Perth on Monday.
But there was an injury concern for West Coast with livewire small forward Willie Rioli taken out of his second game back from hamstring tendon surgery at half-time due to tightness in his "good" hamstring.
Lycett played mostly in attack but contested some centre bounces. He was rusty early but worked into the game, finishing with 11 touches and 16 hit-outs.
The 203cm big man's path back to the AFL is complicated by the Royals having a bye this weekend, before the Eagles host the Cats on Thursday week after their bye.
"I think I've made that mistake in the past where I've said I'm ready and it hasn't quite worked out," Lycett said.
"I'll play my cards close to my chest now and leave that up to the coaches – that's their job – I've just got to play footy."
Lycett gave his shoulder an early test holding onto a juggling a contested mark 20m out from goal in the second term, before savagely hooking the set shot for a behind.
Hearts were in mouths when he came to the bench in the third quarter with a sore right knee – he underwent a PCL reconstruction on his other knee at the end of last year – but it proved only to be a cut that required stitches.
Whether Lycett will have the match conditioning to take on the Cats is uncertain, and the Eagles are unlikely to rush him back with their ruck stocks in relatively healthy shape.
But his presence around clearances could be a boost to an under-fire midfield in the second half of the season.
"When I play my normal game I go in hard and hit bodies, so I just tried not to think about it (my shoulder today) and came out unscathed, which was good," Lycett said.
"When I first came on I was blowing quite hard but as the game went on I felt like I wasn't too bad, so all that work in rehab has paid off.
"I've never really had to watch much footy, so it's been hard to watch, especially when the team's not travelling as well as we could be at the moment.
"I still need to get a bit more confidence and hopefully a bit more consistency in my performance and hopefully I can get a game and have an impact when I play."
Before his day ended prematurely, Rioli excited the Leederville Oval crowd with some trademark brilliance.
His first kick on League debut was a goal after he snatched an opponent's handball and split the middle with a checkside shot.
The mature-age recruit looked dangerous every time the ball went in his direction, and took a screamer in front of the grandstand during the second term.
Dumped Eagles midfielder Chris Masten racked up 28 possessions, although he butchered some kicks, while Jack Redden pushed his case for a recall with 29 touches and two goals.
Second-year ball magnet Luke Partington (three goals) impressed, while tenacious draftee Daniel Venables made things happen with 14 touches and booted two majors.
Key defender Tom Barrass (10 marks) and ruck-forward Fraser McInnes (20 disposals, one goal) were other strong performers.
Earlier, Francis Watson (five disposals and a goal) made his first appearance in two months from an ankle injury on limited game time in the reserves.