The love of the game is a key element in the West Coast Eagles' team values and coach Adam Simpson was intent on ensuring gregarious forward Liam Ryan rediscovered his passion for footy.

Ryan has had a lot to deal with personally in recent weeks and while he continually did the team things, some of the flamboyance was missing.

So Simpson sent him deeper inside the 50 metre arc and Ryan almost immediately impacted the game.

He took two of three breathtaking grabs in the opening quarter, finished those great marks with goals and played a significant role in igniting the Eagles.

Ryan continued to exert a strong influence on the game, gathering 12 possessions, five marks – three of them inside the forward 50 – and finished with 3.0.

The infectious grin of ‘Flyin’ Ryan was back and so was the excitement whenever he went near the ball.