Claye Beams has been one of the hard luck stories for the Brisbane Lions this season.

After finally finding a regular spot in the senior side towards the end of last year, Beams was a standout on the training track over summer and looked set to for a breakout AFL season in 2013.

But a training mishap on the eve of Round 3 would force the young Queenslander to undergo a full knee reconstruction and spend 12 months in rehabilitation.

In just three months since the incident, Beams has made some serious inroads with his recovery.

“My rehab’s actually gone really well, I’m probably a few weeks ahead of schedule,” Beams told Fancast co-hosts Dom Fay and Michael Whiting in a recent interview for LIONS TV.

“I’m at the point where I’m about to start running.

“I can sort of start to play golf again now which I love doing.

“By the end of the season’s I’ll be in fairly good nick, and hopefully I can join in a few of the straight-line drills with the team.”

Beams has come to terms with the latest setback, but revealed it was hard initially.

“It was tough to start with,” he said.  

“Obviously the initial frustrations and realising you were going to miss another season, which for me is all too familiar.

“In a sense, I’m sort of used to it in a way, but it’s still very frustrating.”

He is now more determined than ever to get back on the field and prove that he can make an impact at AFL level.  

“I’m confident that I can play at AFL level. With me, it’s just been injuries that have been holding me back,” Beams said.

“I’m focussed on getting my knee right, and the rest should take care of itself.”