The AFL has pulled out of the International Rules series scheduled for later this year.

The two-game series was due to take place at the end of October in Limerick and Dublin.

BRISBANE have plucked another rising talent from the Emerald Island, signing Ulster speedster Niall McKeever to a two-year-deal.

It was struck on the weekend when Brisbane football manager Graeme Allan dropped by his home north of Belfast with a contract, some Lions gear and a couple of Sherrins with which to hone his skills.

Most players are first invited out on a trial basis, but McKeever has inked a two-year-deal as an international rookie and will join his teammates when they reconvene for the 2010 pre-season in November.

The 198cm, 95kg 20-year-old has caught the eye of several AFL clubs, having been a standout at player agent Ricky Nixon's talent identification camp at Mayo, the home county of future teammate Pearce Hanley.

He missed out on the International Rules series as a minor because the annual cross-code clash was cancelled, but would be on track for senior selection if he were available the next time the series was played.

WITH Ireland’s favourite AFL son Tadhg Kennelly returning home in search of All Ireland success with Kerry, all eyes now turn to the man seen as his readymade successor – Collingwood’s Martin Clarke.

Since making his debut midway through the 2007 season Down man Clarke has been a mainstay of the Magpies side, surprising everyone with how quickly he adapted to the oval ball. Speaking at the end of Clarke’s debut season, Collingwood boss Mick Malthouse described him as “the biggest football story of the year”. Clarke also picked up the NAB Rising Star nomination for Round 13 of the 2007 season as he impressed all around him.

Initially spotted playing in a tournament alongside the U17 International Rules team in 2005, Clarke played senior club football with An Riocht before moving Down Under. During the 2007 off season he returned home to help An Riocht secure its first ever county Division One title, helping himself to 2-1 in the final.

Clarke, 21, admitted in December that if GAA was a professional sport then he would never have left Ireland. “If that chance had come up, I would have loved to stay at home where everything is and play the sport I grew up with,” he said. “All I wanted to do was play for Down from seven or eight. Why would you leave when you have got everything you want?”

LAOIS footballer Conor Meredith is embracing a second chance to get signed up by an AFL club with trials for Richmond Tigers this week and North Melbourne next week.

The promising teenager was on the cusp of signing for the Brisbane Lions not so long ago, but a change in coach at the club meant the deal fell through.

Michael Voss's term in charge of the Queensland club also spelled the end for Colm Begley who was delisted. Begley is now training with Martin Clarke's club Collingwood, in the hope of reigniting his AFL career.

"I got a phone call from them a few months ago saying ,'We want to sign you up, we want to give you a contract'," Meredith said.

"They said that they'd be in contact and then at that camp (Ricky Nixon's) they arrived and said that they'd ring in a few days.