Player Watch Welcome to Hawthorn, James Worpel, pick #43 2017 - Peter Crimmins medalist 2019

[Jazzfan]

He's absolutely shredded.

He'd have to stop doing weights, and we don't want him losing strength.

Didn't he say in an interview with Dwayne on SEN a few months back he focused too much on getting bigger to play the inside mid role, and that with the younger mids coming through now their running is off the charts and he couldn't cover the ground like them?

In short, pretty sure he said his focus will be dropping weight and improving his running capacity.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

Why would you need to go to university when you know so much more than everyone else already?

Maybe you need to go back to school

 

[Dewyyyyy]

If you look at both Petracca and Dusty bodies they have really strong legs that point to a very strong core. I think our fitness team got it wrong with James and looked at working more on his upper body rather than concentrating on his legs and core. Just think we got the mix wrong.

When I said lose weight above it's more of a perception that he is top heavy, but more he needs to redistribute the muscle weight to get the balance right.

This ^

 

[Bugs1977]

He's absolutely shredded.

He'd have to stop doing weights, and we don't want him losing strength.

2023 Worps will be moving into a strict pilates workout routine

 

[Simon Crawshay]

If you look at both Petracca and Dusty bodies they have really strong legs that point to a very strong core. I think our fitness team got it wrong with James and looked at working more on his upper body rather than concentrating on his legs and core. Just think we got the mix wrong.

When I said lose weight above it's more of a perception that he is top heavy, but more he needs to redistribute the muscle weight to get the balance right.

Newk is solid as hell around his legs and butt as well. He is one thick Boi and it helps him a lot!

I personally think Worps could play very effectively at 90kg if like you say that weight was more evenly distributed

Also from what I saw of James this year he seemed to be a playing with zero spunk or confidence. Makes me think 90% of his issues are mental rather than carrying a couple of kilos here or there.

 

[play2win]

I can sort of see the transition. in 2019 he burst onto the scene and had an effective fend off, now teams are more prepared for this having seen more of him and also having schooled up on how to stop dusty Etc. Since his good year he was getting caught a lot more, making him less effective, hence the ‘fix’ was to gain muscle/strength to again break those tackles. It hasn’t worked, time to step it back again and see if he can recapture some form.

As an aside, I must need glasses as I can’t see any ‘clear’ weight differences between these years.

 

[KermitJagger]

He isn’t balanced, hence he struggles to get the ball off the deck and falls over. Also struggled to run out games. I suspect the weight distribution is not helping his game much at all.

His balance is an issue external to his weight. If he's running around at 90kg but his healthy playing weight is 87kg, it really isn't enough to cause a material difference. The human body can fluctuate that much in the course of 24 hours.

If being too "top heavy" was a legitimate concern in the AFL, then Jaeger would topple at the slightest breeze. Fact is that AFL players rarely have these issues due to the cardio requirements, so if fitness is an issue for Worpel then it's an issue of programming and not weight.

To put a bow on this point, it's hard to lose weight from muscle while staying active. It's hard to build muscle, it's hard to lose but it's easy to maintain. In terms of training volume the requirements of maintaining muscle are many times less than building it - what takes 6 days a week of well programmed training can effectively be maintained by a day or two. Judging by Worp's physique - if he needs to lose weight it'll have to come from muscle, and if he needs to lose muscle he will need to train in a way that will harm is game more than help it. Rob Peter to pay Paul essentially.

All of Worpel's issues, balance, endurance, they can be remedied without losing muscle. I think Worpel just used some catch all of "I need to lose weight" in a way that meant I need to work on my fitness and stop actively trying to build more muscle, and it's being severely blown out of proportion.

As an aside, I must need glasses as I can’t see any ‘clear’ weight differences between these years.

You don't need glasses. He's certainly put on weight because you can't necessarily see muscle density, but at the same time it's an important point because it shows he hasn't grown disproportionately in a way that would be likely to cause issues.

 

[Brant]

His balance is an issue external to his weight. If he's running around at 90kg but his healthy playing weight is 87kg, it really isn't enough to cause a material difference. The human body can fluctuate that much in the course of 24 hours.

If being too "top heavy" was a legitimate concern in the AFL, then Jaeger would topple at the slightest breeze. Fact is that AFL players rarely have these issues due to the cardio requirements, so if fitness is an issue for Worpel then it's an issue of programming and not weight.

To put a bow on this point, it's hard to lose weight from muscle while staying active. It's hard to build muscle, it's hard to lose but it's easy to maintain. In terms of training volume the requirements of maintaining muscle are many times less than building it - what takes 6 days a week of well programmed training can effectively be maintained by a day or two. Judging by Worp's physique - if he needs to lose weight it'll have to come from muscle, and if he needs to lose muscle he will need to train in a way that will harm is game more than help it. Rob Peter to pay Paul essentially.

All of Worpel's issues, balance, endurance, they can be remedied without losing muscle. I think Worpel just used some catch all of "I need to lose weight" in a way that meant I need to work on my fitness and stop actively trying to build more muscle, and it's being severely blown out of proportion.


You don't need glasses. He's certainly put on weight because you can't necessarily see muscle density, but at the same time it's an important point because it shows he hasn't grown disproportionately in a way that would be likely to cause issues.

Interesting theory, but have you run this by Dominic03?

 

[Dewyyyyy]

His balance is an issue external to his weight. If he's running around at 90kg but his healthy playing weight is 87kg, it really isn't enough to cause a material difference. The human body can fluctuate that much in the course of 24 hours.

If being too "top heavy" was a legitimate concern in the AFL, then Jaeger would topple at the slightest breeze. Fact is that AFL players rarely have these issues due to the cardio requirements, so if fitness is an issue for Worpel then it's an issue of programming and not weight.

To put a bow on this point, it's hard to lose weight from muscle while staying active. It's hard to build muscle, it's hard to lose but it's easy to maintain. In terms of training volume the requirements of maintaining muscle are many times less than building it - what takes 6 days a week of well programmed training can effectively be maintained by a day or two. Judging by Worp's physique - if he needs to lose weight it'll have to come from muscle, and if he needs to lose muscle he will need to train in a way that will harm is game more than help it. Rob Peter to pay Paul essentially.

All of Worpel's issues, balance, endurance, they can be remedied without losing muscle. I think Worpel just used some catch all of "I need to lose weight" in a way that meant I need to work on my fitness and stop actively trying to build more muscle, and it's being severely blown out of proportion.


You don't need glasses. He's certainly put on weight because you can't necessarily see muscle density, but at the same time it's an important point because it shows he hasn't grown disproportionately in a way that would be likely to cause issues.

Everyone is different, that's the whole idea.

It's not a broad thing, every player is different and has their own issues, that may not be an issue for another player.

 

[Fleabane]

Didn't he say in an interview with Dwayne on SEN a few months back he focused too much on getting bigger to play the inside mid role, and that with the younger mids coming through now their running is off the charts and he couldn't cover the ground like them?

I'm short, pretty sure he said his focus will be dropping weight and improving his running capacity.

It's okay, just focus your mind on what Caleb Daniel has achieved.

 

[KermitJagger]

Everyone is different, that's the whole idea.

It's not a broad thing, every player is different and has their own issues, that may not be an issue for another player.

Exactly, but you're the one comparing him to Dusty and Petracca. Worpel has been proportionately the same size through his U18 years all the way to this year, he hasn't suddenly developed an Olympia worthy upper body to throw off his balance.

If he's unfit, it's a separate issue to his weight and is an issue of his training programming.

 

[Buzz Hawk]

From chocolates to boiled lollies…
After his Crimmo medal win I thought he was the future of the HFC.
Is there a way back for him?

 

[Dewyyyyy]

Exactly, but you're the one comparing him to Dusty and Petracca. Worpel has been proportionately the same size through his U18 years all the way to this year, he hasn't suddenly developed an Olympia worthy upper body to throw off his balance.

If he's unfit, it's a separate issue to his weight and is an issue of his training programming.

I didn't compare him to them? Someone else did, i sorta agree in terms of them being able to hold more weight while still being quick and explosive. While Worpel can't.

He's gotten bigger since his 2018/19 seasons where he was at his best because he was more agile and quick.

He's said himself that he's gotten too big, it's not a massive thing, it's more he's a little too top-heavy muscle-wise, not really in correlation to fitness or aerobic capacity.

 

[KermitJagger]

Brant I hold you completely accountable for this

 

[Fetnarr]

Worps appears to be a very self driven lad and each year he trots off and works really hard in his down time to improve some aspect of his fitness with what appear external coaches/providers. There is evidence of this on his socials. His first couple of pre seasons he seemed to focus on boxing/MMA and other cardio work whereas last year it seemed to be more gym based and he returned at the start of pre season noticeably bigger. Reckon he might of just got the balance off a fraction. Hopefully Burge can take control if his off season and get him back on track. He can play and I’m bullish on him getting back to his best next year. Whoever posted about it being between the ears with him I reckon is probably spot on.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[burger09]

2023 is a big year for Worple.

He could really go either way.

 

[Brishawk]

His balance is an issue external to his weight. If he's running around at 90kg but his healthy playing weight is 87kg, it really isn't enough to cause a material difference. The human body can fluctuate that much in the course of 24 hours.

If being too "top heavy" was a legitimate concern in the AFL, then Jaeger would topple at the slightest breeze. Fact is that AFL players rarely have these issues due to the cardio requirements, so if fitness is an issue for Worpel then it's an issue of programming and not weight.

To put a bow on this point, it's hard to lose weight from muscle while staying active. It's hard to build muscle, it's hard to lose but it's easy to maintain. In terms of training volume the requirements of maintaining muscle are many times less than building it - what takes 6 days a week of well programmed training can effectively be maintained by a day or two. Judging by Worp's physique - if he needs to lose weight it'll have to come from muscle, and if he needs to lose muscle he will need to train in a way that will harm is game more than help it. Rob Peter to pay Paul essentially.

All of Worpel's issues, balance, endurance, they can be remedied without losing muscle. I think Worpel just used some catch all of "I need to lose weight" in a way that meant I need to work on my fitness and stop actively trying to build more muscle, and it's being severely blown out of proportion.


You don't need glasses. He's certainly put on weight because you can't necessarily see muscle density, but at the same time it's an important point because it shows he hasn't grown disproportionately in a way that would be likely to cause issues.

3kgs makes a massive difference to endurance.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

Worps appears to be a very self driven lad and each year he trots off and works really hard in his down time to improve some aspect of his fitness with what appear external coaches/providers. There is evidence of this on his socials. His first couple of pre seasons he seemed to focus on boxing/MMA and other cardio work whereas last year it seemed to be more gym based and he returned at the start of pre season noticeably bigger. Reckon he might of just got the balance off a fraction. Hopefully Burge can take control if his off season and get him back on track. He can play and I’m bullish on him getting back to his best next year. Whoever posted about it being between the ears with him I reckon is probably spot on.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

I posted that

I watched him play a game this year and he almost looked like he didn't want to be out on the field.

He wasn't enjoying his footy one bit compared to Newk who played this year with such a freedom and pure enjoyment.

Don't worry about the physical aspect, for Worps he needs to get his confidence and "mojo" back. Maybe he is putting too much pressure on himself, IDK.

 

[KermitJagger]

3kgs makes a massive difference to endurance.

Sure, 3kg can make a difference to endurance but that's not the argument - balance was. If endurance is the issue, the problem is in his training program.

Do you think it would help his football to lose 3kg of muscle? Next time you're in the supermarket have a look at a 3kg roast because that's the amount of lean tissue he'd be stripping.

 

[Brishawk]

Sure, 3kg can make a difference to endurance but that's not the argument - balance was. If endurance is the issue, the problem is in his training program.

Do you think it would help his football to lose 3kg of muscle? Next time you're in the supermarket have a look at a 3kg roast because that's the amount of lean tissue he'd be stripping.

Adding an extra 3kgs to a 450kg racecourse can turn it from an unbeatable favourite to an also ran so pretty sure it can negatively impact an endurance athlete.

Appreciate that the weight is non-functional but I’d argue the adding of weight by Worpel was essentially non-functional as it hasn’t aided his performance in any aspect of football.

Could he maintain his weight and improve his performance? Sure, hence I said in my first post that he looked unbalanced and it was the distribution of weight that I thought was the problem.

 

[KermitJagger]

Adding an extra 3kgs to a 450kg racecourse can turn it from an unbeatable favourite to an also ran so pretty sure it can negatively impact an endurance athlete.

Appreciate that the weight is non-functional but I’d argue the adding of weight by Worpel was essentially non-functional as it hasn’t aided his performance in any aspect of football.

Could he maintain his weight and improve his performance? Sure, hence I said in my first post that he looked unbalanced and it was the distribution of weight that I thought was the problem.

I don't want to keep repeating myself but if you can show me any evidence at all that Worpel is disproportionately bigger than when he was 18 I'll concede the point.

 

[burner1]

Previously the excuse was him not working with Tom Mitchell and now it’s he was just a bit top heavy. He’s been poor for a number of years now. Maybe he’s just not as good as we hoped?

 

[Coathanger]

2023 is a big year for Worple.

He could really go either way.

Might be big year for spelling also.

 

[Noel Gallagher]

Previously the excuse was him not working with Tom Mitchell and now it’s he was just a bit top heavy. He’s been poor for a number of years now. Maybe he’s just not as good as we hoped?

Lots of excuses for Worpel - weight, unable to play alongside TOM etc.. Fact is, footy history is littered with young players who exceeded their draft position to play really really well early on until opposition clubs worked them out and nullified their main strengths. This may be the reality re Worpel, who knows. If he doesn't come on next year he may be in real trouble..

 

[TheFourPillars]

I think everyone knows including Worpel and Sam that he has underperformed over the last couple of years. It was the reason he was dropped to the VFL. I thought he showed some good signs before he injured his shoulder. A big pre season coming up. Lets give him this year to redeem himself. Actions have already been taken on his form and if he is not up to it he will be dropped. We need him to succeed so i am going to back him in.