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.

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.

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.

[5] 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.

Ultimately he was voted the best player for Hawthorn for the season, collecting the Peter Crimmins Medal,[8] becoming the youngest winner of that record since Leigh Matthews won it in 1971.