For the final 10 games of the season, one third of the Lions' back six was made up of a couple of lads from the Emerald Isle that had not even kicked a Sherrin until four years ago.
But what an impact they made.
Hanley played all 22 games and finished equal fourth in the club's best and fairest, while Daniel Merrett's season-ending back injury opened the door for rookie McKeever to play the final 10 games in a key defensive post.
One man more than impressed by their transition from Gaelic football was Lions' skipper Jonathan Brown.
"The way they've picked the game up is unbelievable really," Brown said.
"I think they're going to be very good players for the club over the next decade."
Hanley came to the club at the end of 2007 as an International Rookie, while McKeever came two seasons later in the same fashion.
Brownlow medallist Jim Stynes blazed the trail for the Irish to come to the AFL, but it was the success of Sydney Swan Tadgh Kennelly, including his 2005 premiership, that captured the attention of both McKeever and Hanley.
Despite seeing weekly coverage of AFL in their homeland, neither had kicked an oval shaped ball before they were scouted by former Lions' football manager Graeme 'Gubby' Allan.
"I picked it up relatively quickly. When you're training every day it doesn't take you long to get accustomed to the ball," Hanley said.
"When I first came I worked pretty closely with (former Lions premiership defender) Chris Johnson who was a development coach and he was a good kick himself and he taught me how to do it and I just worked on it every day after training.
"You have to work harder to get up to the level of the boys that have been doing it their whole life."
McKeever still has an awkward left foot kick but said he was confident of it improving with another off-season.
In the early days, the biggest problem didn't come with the ball as much as the rules.
Hanley admitted to a few early mistakes playing reserves that he laughs at now.
"I was under pressure and instead of kicking or handballing to anyone I just kicked it to myself and everyone stopped. Niall's had a few shockers in his time which have been pretty funny," he said.
"It's always good to look back on where you came from."
But there's not much looking back these days, with Hanley's exciting run from the back half one of the genuine highlights of the Lions' season.
They are polar opposites as players, with Hanley 185cm and 85kg and all run-and-dash, while the athletic McKeever stands at 196cm and 95kg and loves nothing more than banging bodies and spoiling opposition key forwards.
McKeever's experience at the back end of the season was invaluable, particularly his round 22 match-up with Collingwood hulk Travis Cloke at the MCG.
"It was a great challenge for me, and good experience playing on someone that is in All Australian form," McKeever said.
"I definitely picked up a few tips. Everyone knows how strong he is, but the way Collingwood move the ball sometimes it's almost impossible to defend against so that was a big learning curve for me.
"If I had of been told I would play 10 games at the start of the year I would have been over the moon. It was a good experience but at the same time I have a long way to go."
And if Brown is as good a judge as he is player, Lions fans will be able to see every bit of the pair's progression over the next 10 years.
Michael Whiting covers Brisbane Lions news for afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @mike_whiting
