Coates Talent League
Talent
Geelong pair claim top individual Coates Talent League honours
21 SEP 2023 BY: AFL VICTORIA
Patrick Hughes and Sara Howley in action for the Geelong Falcons in the Coates Talent League in 2023
Geelong Falcons duo Patrick Hughes and Sara Howley have each claimed the top individual honours for the Coates Talent League elite under 18 pathway competition in 2023.
Hughes shared the Morrish Medal with Tasmania's Colby McKercher on the boys side, while Howley took home the girls competition best-and-fairest.
Hughes played his junior football for the Torquay Tigers in the AFL Barwon Football Netball League. After missing Victoria Country selection this year, Hughes put that behind him to perform superbly throughout the season and led the Falcons to a preliminary final last weekend.
Howley took up football when she joined Newtown & Chilwell, also in the AFL Barwon FNL, in the under 12s and kept up with football and netball until recent years when her focus has shifted to footy. What makes Howley's achievement this year even more remarkable is that she is a bottom-ager, born in 2006, and is AFLW Draft eligible next year in 2024.
Patrick Hughes (left) lifting a premiership cup for Torquay Tigers and Sara Howley playing junior club football for Newtown and Chilwell.
Both players are examples of community football in the Geelong region producing fantastic young talent.
Read the full media release, including top 10 competition best-and-fairest results for the Coates Talent League boys and girls, as well as teams of the year: https://www.afl.com.au/news/1036778/mckercher-and-hughes-share-morrish-medal-howley-claims-girls-bf
