BRISBANE defender Harris Andrews says he'll be a lot better against North Melbourne on Saturday after enduring a tough return against rampant Geelong forward Tom Hawkins at the weekend.

Andrews played his first game in five weeks after a sickening collision with Jeremy Cameron in round 14 left the Lions vice-captain concussed and with a small bleed on his brain.

Hawkins showed no mercy on the young defender, kicking seven goals in a dominant outing at GMHBA Stadium.

Andrews faces an equally difficult assignment this weekend up against Coleman Medal leader Ben Brown.

"I was probably a bit gassed early on, on the weekend, and was able to settle into the game," Andrews said.

"A month out of the game, although it doesn't seem like a long time, it can be.

"It takes a little bit to pick up the speed of the game and I reckon about halfway through the second half I started to pick it up again."

The 21-year-old said he was "losing my mind a bit" in the third quarter when Hawkins got on a roll but was happy to be playing again.

He said there was no mental scarring from the collision with Cameron and he had never considered sitting out the season.

"I found myself in the same position a couple of times going back with the flight and there wasn't one thought of it at all," Andrews said.

"I've been playing footy for 15 years, I've probably had that same action thousands of times, so nothing's changed.

"Nah, I don't think it (his injury) was scary.

"Those incidents happen in football. I've been concussed before.

"It was probably a little bit scary for my friends and family, the guys that are around me and supporting me, but for me personally it was frustrating, but I'm happy to be back out there again."