AFL Draft 2023: Geelong Falcons prospects Patrick Hughes and Sara Howley win Talent League best-and-fairest awards

Two Geelong Falcons draft prospects have claimed top honours at the Coates Talent League awards, including a clearance machine who was left snubbed during the year.

Geelong Falcons have done the double at the Coates Talent League awards, with clearance machine Patrick Hughes and future star Sara Howley taking out league best-and-fairest awards.

Hughes, who was left out of the Vic Country squad and didn’t receive a draft combine invite, tied for the Morrish Medal on 18 votes with top-five prospect Colby McKercher from Tasmania Devils.

Incredibly, Howley won the girls best-and-fairest as a bottom-ager after a stunning season where she earned All-Australian selection at the national championships and starred in the AFLW U17 Futures game earlier this month.

The Newtown & Chillwell and Geelong College talent looms as an early pick in the 2024 AFLW draft after averaging 20 disposals, 12.8 contested possessions, 6.5 clearances, 5.0 tackles and 108 SuperCoach ranking points for the Falcons in 2023.

Hughes and Falcons medium forward Michael Rudd were named in boys team of the year on the interchange, while Howley and 2023 draft prospects Chantal Mason and Chloe Adams featured in the girls team of the year.

Sara Howley had a dominant year for the Falcons. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Hughes said he worked hard to “prove a few people wrong” after his Vic Country snub, with recruiters’ concerns over his running capacity and ball-use the reason for him being overlooked.

The bullocking inside midfielder polled in eight of his 13 games and led the way for the Falcons as they bowed out in the preliminary final last werkenr, averaging a whopping 32 disposals and 20.9 kicks.

Hughes said he models his game on tough midfielders Tom Atkins and Jai Newcombe.

Hailing from Torquay, Hughes thanked Tigers premiership coach Dom Gleeson and the club for their support.

“Very honoured, it is a bit surreal – it’s been a big few weeks. Just soaking it all in,” Hughes said.

“I couldn’t focus on (being left out of Vic Country) too much, I pretty much had to bounce back pretty quick.

“It gave me a good spark to get back out there and prove a few people wrong so it was good to get back out there and a good lesson learnt during the year

“Dom Gleeson and Torquay football club have been a massive support over the past few years.”

Originally published as AFL Draft 2023: Geelong Falcons prospects Patrick Hughes and Sara Howley win Talent League best-and-fairest awards