Mayo’s Hanley set to make Lions debut after meteoric rise

THE increasing AFL recruitment scramble in Ireland has been vindicated yet again with news that Mayo’s Pierce Hanley will make his senior debut for the Brisbane Lions this weekend – just six months after his first reserve game for the Gold Coast club.

Hanley continues the trend began by clubmate Colm Begley and Collingwood’s Martin Clarke which has seen Irish recruits forego the previously accepted two or three-year probation period before making their bows at the top level.

Previous recruits like Tadhg Kennelly and Setanta Ó hAilpín took that long to learn the intricacies of the game before making headway in their respective first-team squads at Sydney Swans and Carlton but Irish players are now providing a more instant return.