Victorian rivals adamant out-of-contract Hawk is “up for grabs”

Rival clubs are circling Hawthorn midfielder James Worpel.

That is according to Channel 9 journalist and SEN regular Tom Morris.

Worpel, 26, is out of contract at the end of this season and it is understood that St Kilda and Melbourne are showing interest.

Morris also wonders if Geelong could be interested to boost their midfield unit beyond 2025.

“Victorian clubs are adamant he is up for grabs,” Morris said on SEN Breakfast.

“He’s a free agent, a best and fairest from 2019 and crucially, Hawthorn haven’t offered him a contract. In fact there’s been very little, next to no discussion about his future at all and rival clubs have become aware of this.

“St Kilda and Melbourne are taking a look at Worpel and I’m wondering if Geelong will as well, wondering if they could use him in their midfield.

“The Hawks would never confirm this but: they’re happy to keep him, but they’re not going to bend over backwards to do so. If they lose him they would get a compensation pick.

“They’ve already got Carlton’s first two picks at the moment, number 3 and 21, so this would add to that. I’m not saying they’re going to push him out the door but I’m not saying they’re going to offer a long term deal to keep him either.”

Worpel won the 2019 Peter Crimmins Medal in his second season with the Hawks and has finished fourth in the best and fairest in his last two seasons.

In better news for the Hawks, Morris suggested that in-form ruckman Lloyd Meek is set to agree a four-year deal.

“Hawthorn and Meek’s management are working on a four-year deal to keep him. He wants to stay, they want to keep him and it would take something extraordinary for this to fall over,” he added.

Former Fremantle ruckman Meek, 26, is out of contact this year but it appears he’ll remain in the brown and gold for the foreseeable future.

The unbeaten Hawks meet Port Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval in Gather Round this Sunday night.