PEARCE Hanley loves the idea of Australia sending an all-indigenous team to contest the International Rules series and believes Ireland would fully support the concept.

AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou floated the idea on Thursday, and the Brisbane Lions winger said he was a fan.

"I reckon it'd be a good spectacle," Hanley said.

"We have a lot of whippets back in Ireland and obviously the indigenous boys are very quick and skilful, so I reckon that'd make for a very good game.

"I reckon they'd love it. The Irish love the indigenous players because they're all very fast and skilful."

Australia will send a team to Ireland for Tests on October 19 and 26, two years after the Irish came to Australia and inflicted a 2-0 series win on the hosts.

Hanley, who is fast becoming one of the best Irishmen to ever play in the AFL, participated in that series and said the Irish could now match the Australians in terms of physicality.

"I reckon we got on top in the physical stakes last year. The Irish boys, we're getting a bit tougher," he said.

Hanley has been a standout in a slow first six weeks for the Lions, and said starting quicker against West Coast at the Gabba on Saturday was crucial to turning the tide.

The Lions (2-4) have been hammered in first quarters by the Western Bulldogs, North Melbourne and the Sydney Swans, and each time failed to recover.

"When the pressure's on and teams rejig what they do, we haven't dealt with it very well.

"We've put in a lot of work, and this week we should have a better start.

"We definitely have belief. We've showed we can play well. Just a few boys haven't been in their best form.

"We're training hard, we're going to turn it around and it should be this week."

Simon Black was not at the Lions final training run on Friday, but is expected to make his first appearance of the season, as selected.

Michael Whiting covers Brisbane Lions news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_mikewhiting