Just days after playing for Ireland, Colm Begley has been dumped by AFL club Brisbane.

Begley, 22, was the only AFL-listed player picked for Ireland in their one-point International Rules win over Australia in the first Test in Perth on Friday night.

The utility has been told he does not fit in new coach Michael Voss' plans and his contract will not be renewed.

Begley is expected to consider entering next month's national draft to prolong his career.

However, Begley's countryman Pearce Hanley has impressed Voss.

The 19-year-old, from Ballaghaderreen in County Mayo, replaced Begley in the team to make his AFL debut against Carlton in round 21 this year.

The former Gaelic footballer won the Ron Barassi Medal as Ireland's best player in the 2006 under-17 international rules series against Australia.

Coincidentally, Begley helped Hanley settle in at the Lions, even flying over to Australia with the Irish youngster.

Begley played 29 games for the Lions after joining the club as an international rookie at the end of 2005.

Plucked from Stradbally in County Laois, the Gaelic footballer had to learn AFL from scratch upon arrival in Brisbane.

He made his AFL debut in round 20, 2006 - just eight months after kicking the Sherrin for the first time.

In doing so he also became the 100th player to don the Lions guernsey since Brisbane merged with Fitzroy in 1997.

"I didn't know all the positions. But I knew enough to get me by, I suppose," Begley told the Lions website.

His remarkable rise gained momentum in 2007 when he played 19 games under coach Leigh Matthews, winning rookie of the year honours.

But injury hampered his 2008 season, limiting him to just eight senior appearances.

In other news, former Lions tall Beau McDonald has been welcomed back by the club as part-time ruck coach.

McDonald, 28, will replace former premiership teammate Clark Keating as ruck coach next season.

"Keating was a valuable member of the Lions' coaching staff in 2008 but is unable to continue his role due to growing business interests," a Lions statement said.

McDonald returns to the club after injury forced him to prematurely end his 10-year playing career with the Lions in March.

He played 91 matches, including the 2001 and 2002 premiership wins.

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