YOU CAN'T wipe the smile off Jaeger O'Meara's face after the star Gold Coast midfielder successfully got through his first game of football in 15 months on Saturday.

O'Meara was a late inclusion in the Suns' NEAFL team to play Southport and was the best player afield in the first half, tallying 15 disposals and setting up two goals before watching the second half from the boundary line.

There was no sign of tentativeness from the 22-year-old who ruptured his patella tendon last April, as he took two contested marks, swooped on ground balls at top speed and generally looked a class above.

Gold Coast officials were all smiles after the match, but nothing could compare to O'Meara's beaming grin as he fronted the media.

"It's a surreal feeling," he said.

"I haven't played for a long time and to get the first one out of the way and get through unscathed and feeling good about myself, it's awesome.

"It's just great to be back out there and playing footy because that's what I love to do."

Greater Western Sydney midfielder Stephen Coniglio surprised O'Meara by making the trip to Metricon Stadium to watch his best mate play.

He wasn't disappointed.

O'Meara played on a wing in the first quarter – where he had 10 touches – before moving to half forward.

He thanked rehab coordinator Alex Rigby and physio Lindsay Bull, along with the Suns for not rushing his return.

O'Meara said there was no timeframe on his return to the seniors, although the Suns will look to play him for a majority of next Saturday's NEAFL match against the Brisbane Lions.

"To test myself in the first half, I take a lot of confidence out of that for sure," he said.

"I guess along the way you have the doubts, and doing a significant injury like this … but I take a lot of confidence out of the training I've done over the last two to three months.

"I was never going to play unless I was 100 per cent confident in my body again."