St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt has given the Brisbane Lions a backhander for their attempts to ruffle him up in his return AFL game from injury.

In his first game since damaging a hamstring tendon in round three, Riewoldt came in for physical attention from Brisbane at the Gabba on Saturday night, notably when Amon Buchanan slammed into his back after he missed a goal.

Riewoldt responded by dragging Buchanan to the ground, which prompted an all-in melee at three quarter time.

The Saints turned their four-point lead at the final change into a 14-point win, and Riewoldt booted a goal in the last term.

The star forward was pleased to get through his comeback game untroubled, but took a subtle swipe at the Lions for their tactics.

"We value the contested ball and going hard at the ball when it's in a contested situation," he told the Seven Network on Sunday.

"We dominated in that area (Saturday night) and that's the area we like to focus on rather than the stuff behind the ball." Saturday night was not the first time Riewoldt was targeted at the Gabba, as he was famously bumped and battered by then-Lions Mal Michael and Chris Scott in 2005 after he suffered a shoulder injury.

"I'm not too sure what I've done up here, they don't seem to like me too much," he said.

"That's part and parcel of the game.

"It probably got us going a little bit at three-quarter time, we certainly came out and finished the game the stronger of the two teams and got the points, so we're pretty happy about that." Riewoldt said he experienced "absolutely nothing" with his hamstring in his comeback and was happy to again be feeling the normal aches and pains.

"It was certainly nice to be back out there," he said.

"It's been a frustrating three months at various stages, but obviously the guys have done very well, so that's made it easy.

"But just to be out there and to contribute to a great win interstate was pleasing.

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