MAYO MAN PEARCE Hanley got Australia talking with a brilliant performance for the Brisbane Lions last weekend.

Hanley stole the show against North Melbourne on Saturday, scoring three second-half goals as the Lions came from behind to win.

Here’s his second, brilliantly taken on the run from a very tight angle:

YouTube Credit: BigPondAFL

Hanley’s third was even better, selling his marker with a beautiful dummy before cutting back inside and splitting the posts:

YouTube Credit: BrisbaneLionsAFC

The performance has the Australian media waxing lyrical about his class.

“In truth, the 24-year-old from the County Mayo dairy farming town of Ballaghaderreen has arrived at a place in his career where his football alone identifies him,” wrote Peter Hanlon in the Brisbane Times.

“No longer is he merely a good player for someone who came to the game so late – he is simply a very good player. And getting better.”

The Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph has tipped Hanley to win the Lions’ best-and-fairest award while others have suggested that his performances this season could be enough to sneak him on to the All-Australian team.

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