![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/poster-fallback.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n
WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a childhood dream come true for Worpel. He was drafted out of the Geelong Falcons after growing up a Cats fan in the small country town of Bannockburn, which is just outside Geelong.<\/p>\n
The midfielder has enjoyed a change of scenery at a club that\u2019s renowned for its more relaxed lifestyle away from the Melbourne bubble.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve probably gone from almost the polar opposite in Hawthorn to Geelong, it\u2019s been a bit of a change. But it\u2019s been a good change,\u201d Worpel told foxfooty.com.au.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe boys are pretty relaxed and the program is pretty flexible, which is nice. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou still get all the work done you need to work hard, no doubt about that. But there\u2019s a bit more common sense and it\u2019s a bit more flexible, which is a nice little change up. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a bit different from Hawthorn.\u201d<\/p>\n
James Worpel\u2019s first appearance foe Geelong Picture: Geelong CatsSource: Geelong Advertiser<\/p>\n
Worpel\u2019s footy journey has come full circle after two years at the Geelong Falcons including co-captaining the TAC Cup side the 2017 premiership \u2014 a side that also featured Gryan Miers.<\/p>\n
A decade on, Worpel is now chasing that same glory in the blue and white hoops yet again. Only on a slightly larger scale.<\/p>\n
The 27-year old admitted there had always been a pull to return home at some stage of his AFL career if the chance came up.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven I grew up a Geelong supporter, if the opportunity came up throughout my career, I was definitely going to have a hard think about it,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt came maybe a bit earlier than expected, but I\u2019m happy to be here now. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m working closely with (assistant coach) James Kelly and (footy boss) Andrew Mackie \u2014 these are players I have so many good memories of watching when I was growing up. It\u2019s pretty surreal.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe program is run so well and the people are so nice. I\u2019m not surprised in how they\u2019ve been for a long time, they\u2019ve got a good system and they know what works.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just a really good club to be around.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t wait to get in and actually play a real game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Worpel training at Geelong (Picture: Brad Fleet)Source: News Corp Australia<\/p>\n
Worpel said it was a tough call to leave the Hawks and he had nothing but good things to say about his former club after 148 games across eight seasons since being drafted with Pick 45 in 2017.<\/p>\n
He got back to some of his best form in recent years as an inside mid under Sam Mitchell after bursting onto the scene early in his career including winning Hawthorn\u2019s best and fairest in just his second season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI loved my time at Hawthorn. I spent eight years there and have so many good relationships and relationships that will last a long time. It was a difficult decision and definitely very stressful,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cAt the end of the day, they\u2019re both great football clubs and they\u2019re both going to have success.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was definitely something I wanted to make sure I was getting right in the move. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think it was the right time for me and my partner as we begin the next stage of life. Just excited it all went pretty smoothly.\u201d<\/p>\n
While weighing up his free agency call last year, Worpel said it came down to either staying at Hawthorn or moving to Geelong.<\/p>\n
And ultimately the \u201cspecial\u201d opportunity to play for the team he grew up supporting was too good to pass up given \u201cfooty\u2019s not forever.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Worpel laughed off reports from throughout the year that stated he\u2019d already committed to the Cats well in advance of free agency.<\/p>\n
\u201cI find it quite funny, to be honest,\u201d he said with a smile.<\/p>\n
\u201cI read a lot of media, I love footy. I love watching it, I love the whole game.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo it was a bit funny when you see media people saying some things and you\u2019re wondering where they got that information from. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s all fun and games, really, but it can get consuming sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sam Mitchell and Worpel (Photo by Michael Willson\/AFL Photos via Getty Images)Source: Getty ImagesWorpel in action during the 2025 preliminary final (Photo by Robert Cianflone\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Worpel follows in the footsteps of Hawthorn champ Isaac Smith earlier this decade in making the move to arch rival Geelong.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been the AFL\u2019s greatest rivalry of the modern era including Geelong ending Hawthorn\u2019s 2025 season in last year\u2019s preliminary final.<\/p>\n
But Worpel said the clubs\u2019 famous feud wasn\u2019t a factor when deciding to swap allegiances. <\/p>\n
If anything, he\u2019s already excited about the prospect of playing his former side in the blockbuster annual Easter Monday clash. <\/p>\n
But not before he unofficially faces the Hawks for the first time in a match simulation showdown on Monday. <\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think you really take that into account, it\u2019s probably not overly important and doesn\u2019t weigh much in your decision,\u201d Worpel said of the idea of moving to a big rival.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s actually kind of cool when you think they\u2019re the kind of games you want to play in as a player \u2014 the big rivalries with the big crowds. I\u2019m excited. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe play the Hawks on Monday in a practice match, so it\u2019ll be nice to kind of get it out of the way.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll just treat (Easter Monday) as a normal game and go about my business. I\u2019m sure there will be some pretty fun and memorable moments.\u201d<\/p>\n
Worpel says he\u2019s been \u201cpretty lucky\u201d and \u201cspoiled for choice\u201d to have been coached by Alastair Clarkson, Sam Mitchell and now Chris Scott.<\/p>\n
The on-baller gave a shout out to the \u201camazing\u201d work of Geelong assistants Kelly, James Rahilly and the newly added Nathan Buckley as the Magpies great also settles into life at the Cattery and his return to the coaching caper.<\/p>\n
Nathan Buckley is back coaching as an assistant at GeelongSource: News Corp Australia<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he\u2019s learning just as much as I am. Being new to the system, you\u2019ve got to pick things up quickly,\u201d Worpel said of Buckley.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s been really good. He was obviously a great player and a really good coach as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s just trying to learn as much as he can as quickly as he can, but he\u2019s been really good.\u201d<\/p>\n
Worpel also gave his initial insights on …<\/p>\n
Jeremy Cameron<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously he hasn\u2019t been doing a lot at training with his arm injury, but he\u2019s just a genuine good bloke.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of the stuff he does at training, even though he\u2019s not really trying sometimes, he looks really good and does freakish things.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bailey Smith<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone knows he works really hard. I\u2019ll be working closely with him this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s just a normal bloke like the rest of us. He just gets a lot of attention, which is understandable.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe trains hard and puts his head down.\u201d<\/p>\n
Patrick Dangerfield<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s pretty special, he\u2019s a superstar player. He\u2019s been really welcoming to me at the club and I\u2019ve loved having him around.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe goes about it the right way.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Geelong recruit James Worpel has described the environment at his new club as \u201calmost the polar opposite\u201d to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":482406,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[560],"tags":[638,14405,110607,244524,187710,244522,108030,64,63,55,639,42255,684,61785,12923,244526,87387,45742,50007,6281,150057,13659,3448,2105,9799,112375,79257,244525,12141,218846,12097,244521,7198,39209,244519,126359,19095,244527,244523,3247,12936,85,30690,244520],"class_list":{"0":"post-482405","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-afl","8":"tag-afl","9":"tag-alastair-clarkson","10":"tag-andrew-mackie","11":"tag-appearance-foe","12":"tag-arch-rival","13":"tag-arch-rival-move","14":"tag-arm-injury","15":"tag-au","16":"tag-australia","17":"tag-australian-football-league","18":"tag-australianfootballleague","19":"tag-bailey-smith","20":"tag-ben-cotton","21":"tag-childhood-dream","22":"tag-chris-scott","23":"tag-coaching-caper","24":"tag-country-town","25":"tag-flag-tilt","26":"tag-football-clubs","27":"tag-footy-boss","28":"tag-footy-journey","29":"tag-geelong-cats","30":"tag-geelong-falcons","31":"tag-getty-images-inc","32":"tag-hamish-blake","33":"tag-isaac-smith","34":"tag-james-kelly","35":"tag-james-rahilly","36":"tag-jeremy-cameron","37":"tag-match-simulation","38":"tag-max-gawn","39":"tag-media-people","40":"tag-michael-willson","41":"tag-patrick-dangerfield","42":"tag-polar-opposite","43":"tag-practice-match","44":"tag-preliminary-final","45":"tag-real-game","46":"tag-rival-move","47":"tag-robert-cianflone","48":"tag-sam-mitchell","49":"tag-sports","50":"tag-superstar-player","51":"tag-white-hoops"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/482405","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=482405"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/482405\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/482406"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=482405"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=482405"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=482405"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}