Newly-appointed Brisbane Lions vice-captain Dayne Beams is urging his teammates to keep the faith.

Beams says when he arrived at the Gabba from Collingwood at the end of the 2014 AFL season he was aware it would take time for the Lions to become a force in the competition.

After being elevated to a leadership role by coach Justin Leppitsch, the 25-year-old says it’s now part of his responsibility to keep the squad pulling in the same direction.

The Lions haven’t made the finals since 2009 and only just missed the wooden spoon last season.

But Beams is confident success can be found, if a unity can be discovered.

“I came here pretty open-minded … to be honest I looked at the list and thought it would take a little bit of time,” Beams told reporters on Monday.

“The most important thing for us is that we have everyone buy into everything we’re trying to do.

“It only takes one or two to think ‘it’s crap, it’s not worth it’ and it just forces the whole thing to break down.”

Beams primary concern however is a personal one – proving his fitness for the opening round of the season.

The midfielder had season-ending shoulder surgery last year but is confident he’ll be ready when the Lions face West Coast in round one on March 27.

“I’m moving into a bit more contact stuff now and once I’m into that I can enter the main group and start training again, but that’ll probably be a few weeks off yet,” he said.

“I feel stronger in the gym and all the contact stuff I’ve done to date has been pretty good.

“You have to manage these things and be diligent and I’ve been on top of it the last two or three months.”