A grinding nine-point loss to Port Adelaide makes for a hard pill to swallow, but the return of Seb Tape to AFL football was a shining light for Gold Coast.

The resilient half-back competed strongly from the first bounce to the final siren, showing glimpses of his early promise as a top-tier defender.

He managed to run out the game and laid six tackles and five tackles, but it was his ability to read the play that shone through.

Speaking to SUNS TV in the change rooms after the side’s honourable performance, Tape said he was rapt to be back on the field.

“Yeah it was a bit of a buzz; it’s been a long time, another comeback, (but) really happy to be out there and around the contest,” he said.

Tape said the team would do their best to take some positives out of the round 21 contest.

“It’s disappointing to get so close and not get the chocolates, but I guess we can take out some positives,” he said.

“The boys competed really hard on the back of last week and really responded to Bluey’s (McKenna) message.”

With Essendon and West Coast poses as serious challenges in coming weeks, Tape said the team would be out to finish the season on a high.

“We really want to get a lot out of these last two weeks, wherever that might be.

“We want to propel ourselves into our preseason and get some positives going forward.”