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

[lyger]

For the most part our new midfield quartet of Jai, Day, Nash, Worpel is working well as a unit, and should get better with more experience and time playing together. I hope Worps stays.

 

[H00t]

After watching the pre season games and round 1 I really feared he was done. His last few weeks has been elite. Got his confidence back and looks great again.
Plus has really helped my fantasy team

His pre season game against Collingwood and round 1 against * where close to two of his strongest games this year.

He definitely gets a little lost outside the centre square and doesn’t quite know how to get involved much as a forward. But has been right in it when he’s been in the middle.

 

[HawthornHawk]

Given Worps is a J Hopper clone surely we'd only entertain a trade if offered a top 4 pick and a second rounder right?

 

[burner1]

On face value it would appear a big call to trade him out.

As good as he’s been this year his disposal / impact with ball is still an issue and not sure on his defensive side.

Also with Ward, Mackenzie and MacDonald (and stephens/HH) on list and not getting midfield time we have talent (largely unproven) coming through. If we ended up with pick 1 we may be even more open minded.

But would still need a decent offer - and not sure who would pay up.

 

[CaptainWorpedo]

Sign Worps up, a no brainer

 

[BIGHAWK23]

Posted this earlier on the draft board.

His season has gone under the radar after a couple of forgettable years.

Rated elite for clearances in 2023.
7th in the comp for centre clearances
9th total clearances
8th inside 50’s
13th contested possessions

Equal 1st for turnovers with Kelly, but having said that he’s in good company with Brayshaw, Gulden, Oliver and Petracca nipping at his heels.

Reckon both club and player might be happy to see what interest is out there.

They arnt

 

[cryptor]

Noticed that he's keeping himself on his feet a lot more this season which allows him to impact multiple contests.

Looking a bit leaner too which has given him back the agility needed to create some space and the time to try and hit up a target rather than just throw it on his boot around the body - which he still does at times but it's not his only/go-to option.

 

[Billyc]

Noticed that he's keeping himself on his feet a lot more this season which allows him to impact multiple contests.

Looking a bit leaner too which has given him back the agility needed to create some space and the time to try and hit up a target rather than just throw it on his boot around the body - which he still does at times but it's not his only/go-to option.

Good call re: keeping feet. He had been shocking at that in recent seasons.

He's having a good year. Important player at the stoppages. His defensive side is still pretty ordinary though, as is much of our midfield/team.

 

[MasterSamurai]

Our oldest inside mid at 24! Think we need him for some equilibrium.

 

[parsons nose]

He has been using the ball well this season. And has developed a nice understanding with our ruckman. How many times have we seen him on the end of a palm, bursting out of the midfield? The only knock I can see is that he can’t quite sustain his intensity for the duration of game. However, he has delivered in spades this year.

 

[SSSSSS]

Noticed that he's keeping himself on his feet a lot more this season which allows him to impact multiple contests.

Looking a bit leaner too which has given him back the agility needed to create some space and the time to try and hit up a target rather than just throw it on his boot around the body - which he still does at times but it's not his only/go-to option.

Agility has been the biggest improvement in my eye.

Worp's has finally figured out that he can run around the tackle rather than run through it. Amazing how long it took him to figure this out.

Getting leaner has probably helped with the balance and the twinkle toes. Was way too top heavy.

 

[manB]

He has been really good this year still one of the issue is his disposal. Hardly any of his kick hit target in last match. If he can extract and handball it to day, Newk, CMac or Ward he will be more effective.

 

[nickrebellious]

Backing him in to continue improving. I think he struggled last year after he had COVID. Losing even 10% of your cardio at the elite level would see you struggle. He was getting caught a lot last year before he did his shoulder.

 

[Nick the Pig]

He is enjoying his best season since 2019. Looks alot more balanced. Is first to the ball rather than looking flat footed and trailing his opponent.

Winning the ball is one thing but using it well is another. His indifferent disposal is what puts his long term place in the midfield at risk.

 

[Jazzfan]

At what point do we re-sign him?

Posters including SYL said a few weeks back we were hoping to upgrade Worpel with Parish.

Not sure if that was correct, but if so you run the risk of him looking elsewhere for a hail mary on Parish.

Hopefully we just get it done in the next month.

 

[HappyHawk_1]

You could call Worps a younger, cheaper, and better clearance specialist version of Parish…

 

[kenneje]

Hope we offer him a good contract and he stays on. I've loved watching him this year, it's truly wonderful to see a young midfield group dominating clearances.

He's been one of the better inside mids in the competition this year, and is rated 'elite' for clearances.

 

[TylerDurden]

Hope we offer him a good contract and he stays on. I've loved watching him this year, it's truly wonderful to see a young midfield group dominating clearances.

He's been one of the better inside mids in the competition this year, and is rated 'elite' for clearances.

Top 7 in the comp.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

He looks far more mobile around the contest this season and is not playing being flat-footed.

He still is rather sloppy with his disposals in general, but right now his positives clearly outweigh the negatives for mine. Maybe when Mackenzie develops this may change.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Equal 3rd in the comp for Centre Clearances if you don't mind.

 

[TylerDurden]

Equal 3rd in the comp for Centre Clearances if you don't mind.

Been amazing.

 

[tommyk72]

I hadn’t noticed who was winning the clearances, just that we were winning a lot. Great work by worps to be rated so highly.

This makes me thing if he is this a reason why we haven’t been scoring from our clearances. We know his disposal is a weakness. I will be watching more closely this week to see who wins them and what each individual does with them.

 

[theiaofseed]

I hadn’t noticed who was winning the clearances, just that we were winning a lot. Great work by worps to be rated so highly.

This makes me thing if he is this a reason why we haven’t been scoring from our clearances. We know his disposal is a weakness. I will be watching more closely this week to see who wins them and what each individual does with them.

It's not, Day and Newcombe have won just as many and theyre both elite kicks.

 

[naysayer]

Jimmy Worpel has warmed the cockles of my heart this year. Plenty are bemoaning his kicking, but I'm completely unconcerned. He can execute his kicks well, but he needs forwards that communicate where they want it. We are a rabble in the attacking fifty right now. What I wouldn't give for Craig McRae

Craig Mcrae

Age

51

Ht

176cm

Wt

73kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.9

3star

K

9.0

3star

HB

3.9

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

1.9

4star

G

1.2

4star

No current season stats available

D

16.2

4star

K

10.6

4star

HB

5.6

4star

M

1.8

2star

T

1.2

3star

G

1.4

5star

back...

 

[MrPremiership]

Thought he was good on the weekend. Lacked a bit of polish, but so did everyone else.

Has certainly got "ït" back