Hanley a win for Lions

IRISHMAN Cian Hanley will spend a fourth season at Brisbane after a special AFL ruling allowed the Lions to retain him as an international rookie for another year.

Rookie list spots are capped at three years, however, Brisbane successfully lobbied the AFL for special consideration given the younger brother of former star Lion and now Suns player Pearce Hanley did not play a game at any level for the first two years in Australia and then had his third season delayed by the loss of his younger brother and best mate Tommy to cancer.

Hanley, 21, injured his knee in his final Gaelic Football game and arrived in Brisbane facing a 12-month rehabilitation.

His second year was wiped out by groin injuries and he returned to action late last season. The AFL ruling allowed the Lions to redraft Claye Beams with the first selection in yesterday’s rookie draft.