There was a lot to like about Willie Rioli’s comeback match in the WAFL on Saturday.

Rioli, who made his return via East Perth’s reserves following pre-season hamstring surgery, booted four goals from 16 disposals, reeled in six marks and stuck one effective tackle on restricted minutes at Fremantle Oval.

The 21-year-old’s only concern ahead of the match was getting through unscathed.

“My nerves were more about my hammy and just hoping that I would get through,” Rioli said.

“My hammy pulled up great and I just wish we had a game this week.”

Rioli, who played 67 minutes in total, has been doing extra work away from the main West Coast Eagles group to improve his fitness after missing most of the pre-season due to his hamstring injury.

“The first couple of contests and efforts I did took it out of me and I took five or six minutes to get used to it again,” Rioli said.

“But overall the fitness felt good and I felt like I could keep playing past my restricted minutes.

“I’m doing a lot of extras on my days off. I’m doing a bit of boxing and a bit of cardio work after training as well. I’m building my fitness up.”

While Rioli is striving to increase his fitness base, his goal-kicking ability is hardly a work in progress.

The livewire small forward displayed his innate goal sense by kicking a variety of six pointers against South Fremantle’s second side.

“The first goal was a bit of a cheap one I guess,” Rioli joked.

“I came off the back of the square, kept running down to the forward line and we lucky enough to get the ball back. It was a good kick from one of the boys; it came over the defenders’ head and inside the square. I ended up taking a chest mark and kicking my first one. It was my first kick and first goal.”

“My second one was a front and centre, which was pretty good on the review.

“The third one I got a lucky one-hander in and made the set shot and the last one was from the boundary, which was nice. I kind of threw it on the boot. I didn’t think it would go in, but luckily enough it did.”