Pearce Hanley has criticised the methods used by the AFL to recruit Irish players, arguing that more emphasis should be placed on Gaelic football performance that athletic testing.

At present, the AFL uses a series of speed, agility and jumping tests in conjunction with kicking and passing examinations to judge players at draft combines and camps, such as those organised by former Kerry and Sydney Swans player, Tadhg Kennelly in Dublin and London.

Kennelly remains the sole GAA recruit to win a premiership title, while Hanley and Zach Tuohy are the only players from these shores currently on senior lists of AFL clubs, at Brisbane Lions and Carlton Blues respectively.

Our Victorian-based fans get to meet @pearcehanley at the #AFLSeasonLaunch pic.twitter.com/2vUEg5BGoA

— Brisbane Lions (@brisbanelions) March 16, 2016

Hanley has established himself as a key operator for the Lions since being selected in the 2008 rookie draft.

Now 27, he had played in the senior championship for Mayo in the summer before embarking for Queensland and his prodigious talent has made him one of the AFL’s top players in recent seasons, playing 107 senior games to date.

Hanley’s brother Cian is rookie listed with the Lions, while others trying to make the breakthrough are Ciaran Byrne and Ciaran Sheehan (Carlton), Conor McKenna (Essendon), Padraig Lucey (Geelong), Sean Hurley (Fremantle), Conor Glass (Hawthorn), Colin O’Riordan (Sydney) and Paddy Brophy (West Coast). Byrne, Sheehan and McKenna have all played at senior level.

Darragh Joyce, Ray Connellan and Cillian McDaid all tested at January's AFL academy camp in Bradenton, Florida. Joyce attended October's draft combine in Melbourne.

Four years gone but never forgotten. Today we remember the great Jim Stynes. pic.twitter.com/dxJHDpdqun

— Melbourne Demons (@melbournefc) March 20, 2016

Only Hanley, Jim Stynes, Sean Wight, Kennelly, Setanta Ó hAilpín, Martin Clarke and Tuohy have played 50 games or more in the League despite more than 50 Irish players having signed on with clubs since the establishment of the so-called ‘Irish experiment’ in the 1980s.

Lions vice-captain Hanley believes that this can be attributed in some way to how the players are chosen.

“To be honest, I don't think the draft camps work that well, because they take the sort of player that might test well, but might be a different on-field player” Hanley said.

He said clubs would be better served by placing greater stock on skill, rather than athleticism.

“Go watch them play. Ireland's got loads of talent over there. I reckon if you want the best ones, spend some time and watch them play (to see) if they could adapt to the game.”

It has been reported that there is frustration among some recruiters, who feel their recommendations on Irish players have not been listened to by the AFL when issuing invitations for the draft combine.

While he has found a niche as a rebounding defender, Hanley said that it remained a difficult task to transition successfully to Australian football, while adapting off the field is just as difficult.

“A lot that have come out have struggled. Some just haven't adapted to the game style.

“It's not as easy as everyone thinks it is. It's a lot of work, and especially with the way the AFL's going. It's so professional now and it is harder to crack in. You've got to come over with the right attitude.”