Mayo teenager Pierce Hanley last month accepted a two-year Lions international rookie contract and Matthews admits Ireland has become "a fertile breeding ground for AFL clubs".

At Brisbane, Hanley will be teaming up with former Laois defender Colm Begley, who has played 20 senior matches for the Lions since his recruitment in 2006. Hanley's capture brings the number of Irish players in the AFL to eight, with former Down minor Martin Clarke . . . who broke Begley's record for the fastest Irish debut in AFL history in June . . . joining Collingwood last year and former Armagh minor Kevin Dyas and Carlow midfielder Brendan Murphy both confirmed as international rookies for the 2008 season.

AFL legend Matthews, who coached Brisbane to three consecutive Premierships from 2002-2004, said Tadhg Kennelly's success and the rapid development of Begley and Clarke has changed the goal posts for AFL clubs hunting GAA talent. "There's no doubt that what Tadhg [Kennelly], Colm [Begley], and Martin Clarke, as well as Setanta [O hAilpin] have achieved has encouraged AFL clubs to look at more Irish players, " Matthews said.

"Ireland is a fertile breeding ground for AFL clubs and I can see more Irish players coming here in the future.

"We have recruiting people who go to Ireland to look at players . . . I don't have the time to go and see them . . . and then they inform us if they have recruited someone."

Carlton's former recruiter Shane O'Sullivan is also excited by the influx of GAA talent.

"When I went to Ireland in 1998 to see Tadhg Kennelly, we were told there were an unlimited number of good players there keen to play full time sport, " O'Sullivan said.

But former Australian International Rules chairman of selectors Gerard Healy believes the AFL could have to restrict the recruitment of GAA players. "I reckon it's still one of the great untapped areas. But the AFL knows they can't end up simply pillaging their [GAA] stocks of young players."

THE AFL'S IRISH RECRUITS AT FOUR OF AUSTRALIA'S BIGGEST CLUBS BRISBANE LIONS Colm Begley On a salary of $AUD43,200 plus $AUD2,400 per game . . . the permitted amount for senior listed players in their first two years . . . but his earnings will increase to around $AUD56,700 next year plus $AUD2,400 per game.

Pierce Hanley The Mayo teenager starts on $30,500 a season as an international rookie.

CARLTON FOOTBALL CLUB Aisake O hAilpin On the rookie list earning around $AUD30,500 a season but is expected to make his senior debut next year.

Setanta O hAilpin Earning $AUD56,700 plus $AUD2,400 per game. Now a "rst choice player but the Navy Blues have one of the worst lists in the AFL and have won three wooden spoons in "ve years.

COLLINGWOOD FOOTBALL CLUB Martin Clarke Phenomenal "rst season at the losing preliminary finalists. Well on the way to becoming a superstar in the Tadhg Kennelly mould. Earns $AUD43,200 plus $AUD2,400 per game.

Kevin Dyas Starts on $AUD30,500 as an international rookie.

SYDNEY SWANS FOOTBALL CLUB Tadhg Kennelly The biggest Irish star in the AFL and the only Irishman to win an AFL Premiership. Kennelly has a pay packet of several hundred thousand dollars a season and also has a million dollar home in Sydney.

Brendan MurphyWill start on $AUD30,500 as an international rookie.