Hawthorn will receive an end-of-second-round compensation pick (currently Pick 39) for the departure of James Worpel, as the midfielder heads down the highway to Geelong.
Worpel joins the Cats as a restricted free agent, with Hawthorn electing not to match Geelong's reported four-year deal for the 26-year-old.
Worpel said he was thrilled to join his childhood team on Monday.
"I couldn't be happier, it has been a busy couple of weeks but I couldn't be happier to play for the blue and white," Worpel told Cats Media.
"It is a team that I have supported for the majority of my life, I have so many good memories of watching and probably not so many good memories of playing.
"It is good to be all done and dusted. I think it was the right time for me and my partner, to get back home to my family and friends down here.
"It was too great to pass up."
Worpel's move sees him head down the highway to return to the area of Victoria of which he grew up in, having connections to many Cats players, most notably Gryan Miers, and is a clear fit within Geelong's current midfield group.
"It is great, it was one of the big drawing points to come back home," Worpel said of playing with Miers.
"I played a lot of footy with Gryan, so I am keen to reunite with him and hopefully he kicks me the ball a couple of times and I can get a few touches.
"I am super excited to play with a lot of players here, it is such a great team and they have performed so well for a long period of time.
"I am keen to add some value and win some games. Hopefully we can take it that one step further."
Worpel averaged just shy of 10 contested possessions and three stoppage clearances per game this season, but has reached the heights of over four stoppage clearances per game in years past, highlighting his capability of being the inside bull Geelong currently lacks.
However, he mentioned that he was most excited to learn off Geelong's star midfield group, notably captain Patrick Dangerfield.
"I can't wait, there is a lot of great players in there," Worpel said.
"Obviously 'Danger' is a big one, to learn off him. I am still in the middle part of my career and I have still got such a huge amount to learn, to become a better player.
"I can't wait to pick their brains and see how they go about it, I am sure there is a lot of stuff to learn and game plans. I am super excited to get into it."
Geelong Cats Executive General Manager of Football, Andrew Mackie, said Worpel will jell immediately in the Cats' exhilarating midfield, which fell agonisingly short of a premiership a week ago.
“We're really pleased to welcome James to the Cats," Mackie said.
"James is a quality person and player who we believe will complement our current playing group. We're looking forward to seeing him in the hoops in 2026."
