James Worpel

James Worpel (born 24 January 1999) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

James Worpel
Worpel playing for Hawthorn in August 2018
Personal information
Nickname(s) Worpedo
Date of birth (1999-01-24) 24 January 1999
Original team(s) Geelong Falcons (TAC Cup)
Draft No. 45, 2017 AFL draft
Debut Round 6, 2018, Hawthorn
vs. St Kilda, at University of Tasmania Stadium
Height 185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 85 kg (187 lb)
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current club Hawthorn
Number 5
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2018– Hawthorn 48 (16)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2020.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Early career

One of nine siblings growing up in the regional town of Bannockburn near Geelong, James was the second youngest and grew up with three other football obsessed brothers. An early developer James was selected at centre half back in the 2014 U/15 All Australian team.[1]

Worpel spent two years developing his craft in the TAC with the Geelong Falcons. Worpel is a fierce competitor that goes in to win hard ball.[2]

A natural leader he was appointed co-captain of the Falcons for the 2017 year. He would later lead the side to the premiership. He was captain of the Victoria Country team in the 2017 AFL Under 18 Championships and was later rewarded with being selected in the U/18 All-Australian team.[3]

AFL career

Worpel was drafted by Hawthorn with their first selection and forty-fifth overall in the 2017 AFL draft. He made his AFL debut in the thirty-five point win against St Kilda at the University of Tasmania Stadium in round six of the 2018 season.[4][5] He played three games before getting dropped. Back in the side for round 18 against Carlton, he put in an impressive four match performance for Worpel became Hawthorn’s second Rising Star nominee for the 2018 season.[6]

2019 season

During the 2019 pre-season Worpel was given the number 5 guernsey that had been vacated due to Ryan Burton having been traded to Port Adelaide.[7] Worpel wore number 38 for his debut season.[8]

Worpel was picked for round one, and managed to play every game for the season. He set a league record for most disposals for a player under twenty years of age. Ultimately he was voted the best player for Hawthorn for the season, collecting the Peter Crimmins Medal,[9] becoming the youngest winner of that record since Leigh Matthews won it in 1971.[10] Worpel is considered a protégé of Assistant Coach and former Hawthorn player Sam Mitchell.[8][11]

In 2020 Worpel missed the last two games of the season when he injured of his right acromioclavicular (AC) joint against Western Bulldogs that required surgery to stabilise the joint.[12]

Statistics
Statistics are correct to the end of 2020.[13]
Legend
 G  Goals  B  Behinds  K  Kicks  H  Handballs  D  Disposals  M  Marks  T  Tackles
AFL playing statistics
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2018Hawthorn38 1155959819323430.50.58.68.917.52.13.90
2019Hawthorn5 2298309275584721070.40.414.012.526.53.34.910
2020Hawthorn5 152716712028739810.10.511.18.019.12.65.40
Career 48162057149310641342310.30.411.910.322.22.84.810

Honours and achievements

Team

Individual

References
  1. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-11-15/top-draft-prospect-doing-it-by-the-numbers
  2. https://www.afldraftcentral.com.au/player/james-worpel/
  3. https://www.afldraftcentral.com.au/player/james-worpel/
  4. "Worpel's wait is over". hawthornfc.com.au. 26 April 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  5. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-28/james-worpel-proves-elusive/9707458
  6. http://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/2018-08-13/worpel-a-future-star
  7. {{cite web|url=https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/459709/worpel-signs-on%7Ctitle=Worpel signs on|website=Hawthorn Football Club|date=February 11, 2019|access-date=April 8, 2020}]
  8. McClure, Sam (27 April 2019). "On the Worpel path: The master and the apprentice". The Age. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  9. https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/2019-10-05/worpel-crowned-peter-crimmins-medallist
  10. Black, Sarah (6 October 2019). "Youngest since 'Lethal': Tough midfielder named top Hawk". Australian Football League. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  11. "Complacency not a worry for Worps". Hawthorn Football Club. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  12. https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/808929/worps-returns-to-melbourne-for-surgery#:~:text=Hawthorn%20midfielder%20James%20Worpel%20will,right%20acromioclavicular%20(AC)%20joint.&text=%E2%80%9CGiven%20where%20our%20season%20is,a%20return%20to%20preseason%20training.%E2%80%9D
  13. "James Worpel". AFL Tables. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
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