Mayo's Pearce Hanley has reportedly agreed a new five-year contract with Australian Rules side Brisbane Lions, with the deal set to be confirmed by the Queensland club tomorrow.

JUST a case of Ireland going through the motions this morning? Think again, says vice-captain Ciaran McKeever.

KARL LACEY is expected to be the odd man out for tomorrow’s International Rules first test.

NEW Laois boss Justin McNulty is likely to have the services of Conor Meredith next season after the former minor star was released by AFL side North Melbourne yesterday.

THE same day his opinions on the new breed of code-breakers made headlines Down Under, Tadhg Kennelly also did his talking on the pitch on Saturday night, helping the Sydney Swans to an emphatic victory on his return from injury.

FOUR Dublin footballers were allegedly informed that they would be dropped from Pat Gilroy’s panel for this weekend’s NFL tie against Mayo if they attended Ricky Nixon’s AFL trial camp in Meath yesterday.

MICHAEL QUINN continued the hugely positive impression he is making on Aussie Rules experts, with an accomplished performance on his return to the Essendon team that drew with Brisbane 87-87 on Saturday.

THE number of young Irish footballers set to be lured by the prospect of full-time sport by AFL clubs will increase, according to sports agent Ricky Nixon.

LAOIS’S Zach Tuohy has reaffirmed his commitment to his county’s Championship cause despite confirmation that he is to spend over a month of the summer in a Carlton Football Club training camp.

Laois teenager Conor Meredith has become the latest Gaelic footballer to sign forms with an Australian Rules club.

AUSTRALIAN coach Mick Malthouse will not ask his players to rein in their natural aggression despite the future of International Rules depending on their behaviour, while Ireland captain Seán Cavanagh described the last Series, which was marred by violence as the “low point” of his career.