The strong return of Dayne Beams from an eight-month injury battle was a silver lining to Brisbane Lions' dark day against Port Adelaide.

Beams made his long-awaited comeback from shoulder and knee tendon injuries and didn't miss a beat with 30 possessions - 15 of them contested, 8 clearances, and a goal.

The 2012 All-Australian said his time on the sidelines had made him a better person and a better footballer.

“It’s been a long time going back to August last year. I’ve been in the wilderness for a while and to be honest, it’s been difficult at times,’’ Beams told the Sunday Mail.

“So there’s definitely excitement and relief to be back out there playing again, doing what I love.

“The injury rehab group is a small group and you are away from the rest of the boys but it’s taught me a lot about my body and I’ve also built up some mental resilience.

“You try to take the positives and I’ve been able to really knuckle down on a few things in my life.

“I’ve changed what I do as a person from what I eat to what I do around the footy club. In that regard, it’s been good to be in the rehab group.

“I wished I learned those lessons earlier in my career. You are never too old to absorb information.’’

Beams and his wife Kelly are expecting their first child at the end of September and the midfielder said the excitement had also helped deal with the double-barrelled injury blow.

“During the tough times when you get a bit flat, it has always been in the back of my mind and it is something that gets you through tough days,’’ he said.

Brisbane Lions Senior Coach Justin Leppitsch said Beams should be happy with his return on a personal level.

"He was good. He had patches where we put him forward for a bit to try and nurse him through but he had a pretty good output, didn't he, for a guy who hasn't played [recently]," Leppitsch said.

"Great leadership and great class and poise, which he's got."

MORE ON LIONS.COM.AU

  Match Report: Port Too Powerful

  Weekly Update: Round 8

  VOTE: Player of the Round