WEST Coast coach Adam Simpson has revealed small forward Liam Ryan had been drinking alcohol in the lead-up to his car crash last Monday.

The club is rallying around the first-year Eagle, who will return to football on Saturday via East Perth in the WAFL after sitting out last round.

Ryan crashed his car into a tree in Armadale in Perth's south-eastern suburbs around 6am on the Monday after West Coast's Saturday evening loss to the Crows in Adelaide.

MATCH PREVIEW Collingwood v West Coast

"Obviously he breached our code of conduct with our players trademark," Simpson told Fox Footy.



"He was out too late and he was drinking, so we have to respect that he's broken those codes of conduct, so he won't play again this week.

"We need to look after his wellness and some of the things going on in his life that we've got to deal with.

"We'll work through that, we're here to support him."

Ryan returned to training the day after the incident and has been on the track this week at Subiaco Oval.

"He knows he's made a bit of a blue, which he has to deal with and we'll help him out, but he hasn't changed too much around the club. He's still his bubbly self, which is good to see," leadership group member Jeremy McGovern told AFL.com.au.

"It's been a little bit difficult (for the leaders to deal with) because obviously there's still a (police) investigation going on, so it's hard for us to judge with anything.

"Our main priority is obviously Liam's health and to make sure he's OK, which he is at this stage.

"We'll deal with the rest of it when we know exactly what's going on."

While Ryan isn't available to face Collingwood in an MCG blockbuster, the Eagles are hopeful Josh Kennedy (leg), Jack Darling (ankle), Mark LeCras (wrist) and Tom Barrass (back) are fit to return after all four got through training on Tuesday.

Midfielder Dom Sheed is also in the mix after being axed after the round 13 loss to Sydney.

The Eagles have to weigh up bringing back four players from injury against the speedy Pies, but Simpson is especially keen to regain some firepower in attack.

The Eagles have been without their trio of leading goalkickers Kennedy (29 goals), Darling (28) and LeCras (22) for the past two games.

"If they're available I think we'll definitely look at them," Simpson said.

"We've had to mix our forward line around the last few weeks. Just having so many players of that quality out of your front half, it's been a challenge.

"The players we've had in the side have played their role as best they could, but some of them just weren't training for that position throughout the year, so it will be good to get them back."