Welcome Welcome to Hawthorn: Josh Ward. Extends to 2029!

[tommyk72]

The most challenging thing with Ward's improvement is when I'm drafting my team for the Fantasy Draft league I'm in, who do I pick with my first? Newk or Ward!?!? Maybe Newk first, Ward second and then Day with my third pick?

 

[MasterSamurai]

Need him to put in a big one next week. He's the type cats won't have any answers for as they'll be worried with asking for free kicks, Newcombe, Impey and Gunston. Ward with a bit of space , could really open them up in transition.

 

[MrPremiership]

Best game he's played I think.

Just so happy for him. Love what he's done this year and where he's come from

 

[Baz_hawk]

Wardy has had a massive year, absolutely wrapt for the guy, was in and out of the side for a long time and has really worked his ass off and made himself one of the first picked for us.

 

[Alite]

Josh Ward is becoming the player he was recruited to be: not the first in but goes when needed.

2023 at VFL he was just helpful
2024 he became a high possession player.
2025 he has become the centre and link player that we need. Zero excitement, 100% does a job.

 

[DearJai]

Need him to put in a big one next week. He's the type cats won't have any answers for as they'll be worried with asking for free kicks, Newcombe, Impey and Gunston. Ward with a bit of space , could really open them up in transition.

Another 30 touches from him on the wide open spaces of the MCG, with opponents more worried about running forward than they are about winning the ball.... would make him a massive thorn in their side.

He was a bit tentative in the final against GWS, and at times against Brisbane. After this week, that's not going to be the case again in any finals series you would imagine.

Based on his work across the entire season, it's actually more likely that he'll continue to step things up a notch or two.

 

[Hawks_Footy]

Played his best 2 games in 2 of the 4 finals he's played.. he looked so clean and composed on Friday.. you'd think he truly believes now

 

[dmark]

Played his best 2 games in 2 of the 4 finals he's played.. he looked so clean and composed on Friday.. you'd think he truly believes now

Yep, I think he has built up his tank too, seems to have a-lot more endurance and this has helped lift his game to a new level

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

Played his best 2 games in 2 of the 4 finals he's played.. he looked so clean and composed on Friday.. you'd think he truly believes now

I think the GWS win was a turning point on multiple levels. Team and player belief.

 

[Gaborone]

Couldn't have been more impressed by his game against Adelaide. It says so much about his character and development. He's not only smart, he has also done the hard work needed realise his natural talent. His development has largely gone under the radar and that may well be a trump card for the Hawks inn the next two weeks!

 

[The Jet From Poowong]

Couldn't have been more impressed by his game against Adelaide. It says so much about his character and development. He's not only smart, he has also done the hard work needed realise his natural talent. His development has largely gone under the radar and that may well be a trump card for the Hawks inn the next two weeks!

Good point. Hopefully the Geelong coaches are as ignorant and allow him free rein. Decision making and ball use are top notch

 

[Bardo State]

He's starting to bounce off players. I think he's gonna get tackled but he's strong now and he can burst after. It's giving him that extra second back in the contest he had in juniors. I am all in on this kid.

Funnily enough, I always thought his ceiling was something like Zach Merrett.

 

[Sixpence]

Took a bounce against Adelaide. Couldn't believe it. You know he's getting more confidence when he takes a bounce! He's usually more a hot potato kinda guy (a pretty accurate hot potato guy, mind you) so doesn't hold it long enough to bounce.

Question for the stats nerds, how many bounces has he taken in his career? Can't be too many.

 

[oscarthegrouch]

Took a bounce against Adelaide. Couldn't believe it. You know he's getting more confidence when he takes a bounce! He's usually more a hot potato kinda guy (a pretty accurate hot potato guy, mind you) so doesn't hold it long enough to bounce.

Question for the stats nerds, how many bounces has he taken in his career? Can't be too many.

12

 

[Titch3Votes0MooreAA]

Had a perfect angle of him for most of the night. Ward was making handballs under pressure that were nearly impossible. Somehow found a teammate 9 times out of 10. Super clean. Was running hard all night to spread the inside midfield as much as possible due to the lesser width of Adelaide Oval. Was a man who clearly learned from the semi-final there last year. His kicking under pressure still needs improvement, but he has a beautiful kick at open.

Do not at all be surprised if Josh Ward ends up as the next Hawthorn Football Club Brownlow Medalist.

 

[Come back Cyril]

Had a perfect angle of him for most of the night. Ward was making handballs under pressure that were nearly impossible. Somehow found a teammate 9 times out of 10. Super clean. Was running hard all night to spread the inside midfield as much as possible due to the lesser width of Adelaide Oval. Was a man who clearly learned from the semi-final there last year. His kicking under pressure still needs improvement, but he has a beautiful kick at open.

Do not at all be surprised if Josh Ward ends up as the next Hawthorn Football Club Brownlow Medalist.

That game from Ward is what we would hope to be getting from Merret next year. Watched the replay this morning and his disposal and cleanliness absolutely stands out - elite performance.

 

[humid hawk]

Footy is a tough game.

Looked the money last week against the Crows, had zero touches in the second half this week against the Cats. 8 disposals in total for the game. 6 tackles is good, but Geelong are so good at standing up and still dishing out handballs while under pressure.

He'll be burning after that.

Reckon he'll hit hard next year.

 

[SSSSSS]

Footy is a tough game.

Looked the money last week against the Crows, had zero touches in the second half this week against the Cats. 8 disposals in total for the game. 6 tackles is good, but Geelong are so good at standing up and still dishing out handballs while under pressure.

He'll be burning after that.

Reckon he'll hit hard next year.

I think like a lot of our younger blokes they just had nothing left to give.

Butler, Ward, Weddle and even the Wiz were all poor. They looked like they were missing a step.

 

[dmark]

I think like a lot of our younger blokes they just had nothing left to give.

Butler, Ward, Weddle and even the Wiz were all poor. They looked like they were missing a step.

They will be all better off for the exposure of Prelim, massive crowd and the occasion, the cats are a hardened finals side
They were just better than us on the night.

Next year lads the cup will be ours.

 

[Bedi]

Footy is a tough game.

Looked the money last week against the Crows, had zero touches in the second half this week against the Cats. 8 disposals in total for the game. 6 tackles is good, but Geelong are so good at standing up and still dishing out handballs while under pressure.

He'll be burning after that.

Reckon he'll hit hard next year.

I'd give both him and Worpel a rating of 1 out of 10 for last night. A prelim is not the time we can afford these kinds of players to go missing.

 

[oscarthegrouch]

It didn’t help that he was parked at half forward for a majority of the second half where the ball hardly went. Only 3 cbas in the second half and they were all at the start of the third

 

[Suntory Boss Coffee]

It didn’t help that he was parked at half forward for a majority of the second half where the ball hardly went. Only 3 cbas in the second half and they were all at the start of the third

Mitch threw the magnets around and it just didn't work unfortunately.

Ward needs another preseason in the gym. Boys against men last night. He has shown a lot this year. Wouldn't surprise me if he cracked top 7 in the BnF with how we do our voting.

 

[yeahmate]

Had a great season and made very strong progress but he needs to be more aggressive and combative in the midfield especially when hes getting shutting out. Hoping that will come next year

 

[Atch]

Will be good for the exposure, just wish we could've got more September exposure to Mackenzie and Bailey Mac somehow.

 

[oscarthegrouch]

Mitch threw the magnets around and it just didn't work unfortunately.

Ward needs another preseason in the gym. Boys against men last night. He has shown a lot this year. Wouldn't surprise me if he cracked top 7 in the BnF with how we do our voting.

yeah i agree, but you cant exactly blame him, did what he could when he got the ball, but when ur at half fwd or on the far wing ball didnt get within 30m of him