SUSPENDED Lion Rhan Hooper is "desperate" to return to action but Brisbane Lions coach Michael Voss says he won't make it easy for him.

Voss met Hooper on Wednesday for the first time since he was suspended for 28 days for missing pre-season training sessions.

It was the second time in two years the talented small forward has been punished for walking away from the club.

But Voss is confident the 20-year-old, who is battling personal issues, is committed to adding to his tally of 39 senior matches.

The new coach said Hooper was remorseful and believed he was ready to serve his penance by training hard away from the senior group.

"I just wanted to know I could have a committed Rhan," Voss said.

"He realises that, he's disappointed that he's let the team down and he desperately wants to come and play AFL football.

"That opportunity's not lost but the ball's in his court now."

Hooper will be put on a specially-planned training program to ensure he will be at required fitness levels when he returns to the group in the New Year.

"We're still going to put our support around him to help him succeed, we're not going to just leave him to his own devices, but there's a certain point you've got to go to before you get some reward back," Voss said.

"If he does that there's no reason why he can't come back into our football team and also come back with the respect of the players."

When Hooper walked out on the Lions in January 2007 citing personal problems and the grind of pre-season training it effectively ruined his year.

The Ipswich product returned to the Gabba three weeks later and was fined $7000 but took most of the season to return to full fitness.

Voss said Hooper, who kicked 19 goals in 20 matches in 2008, now knew a far greater degree of professionalism was expected of him.

"As I said to Rhan these things aren't always about the (personal) issues," he said.

"There's a method of letting the club know what's going on so we're in a position where we can help him and not ostracise him from the group.

"He was very receptive to what we spoke about and he's pretty committed to realising he made some errors in his judgement and he's committed to doing what it takes to get back into the group, which is exactly what I wanted to hear."