Howarth, 17, joins delisted Melbourne Demon Daniel Nicholson and former Coburg VFL duo Guy Phelps and Tyrone Beans as off-season additions at Gardens Oval. 

The 182-centimetre midfielder-forward played five TAC Cup games for North Ballarat Rebels this year and is training in the hope of making the side’s 2015 list as a top-age player.

Port Fairy coach Brett Evans said the Seagulls were thrilled to land someone of Howarth’s calibre.

He is the only player on the Seagulls’ list training with a TAC Cup side.

“It is really good for the club to have a representative in the TAC Cup,” Evans said.

“We hope he goes well at that but at the same time it would be good to get some games out of him as well.” Evans said Howarth had family friends in Port Fairy and was interested in a change. 

“He is a very talented young footballer so we weren’t going to let him slip by,” he said. 

“He’ll probably be an onballer-forward type for us but we will work with the Rebels. They will tell us where he needs to improve.”