Welcome Welcome to Hawthorn: Josh Ward. Extends to 2025!

Simon Crawshay

Premiership Player
Jun 4, 2016
4,806
13,069
AFL Club
Hawthorn
I have been a strong advocate for drafting taller mids but at pick 7 it seems a no brainer to draft this kid even at 181cm.

His elite endurance and skills alongside his inside / outside game will more than compensate for lack of height. If he turns into our version of Sam Walsh that would do nicely!

Would still like the club to draft some taller mids with later picks but not sure how many of that type are actually left in the draft?
 

TylerDurden

Mischief. Mayhem. Soap
Mar 5, 2007
25,219
90,366
Lou's Tavern
AFL Club
Hawthorn
I have been a strong advocate for drafting taller mids but at pick 7 it seems a no brainer to draft this kid even at 181cm.

His elite endurance and skills alongside his inside / outside game will more than compensate for lack of height. If he turns into our version of Sam Walsh that would do nicely!

Would still like the club to draft some taller mids with later picks but not sure how many of that type are actually left in the draft?
He's 183cm now.
 
I don't recall much being said about his captaincy credentials; much of the hype was about how good a leader Hobbs was/would be.

Hold on, Capt Vic Metro, Capt NAB Team of the Year: what does that say about his presence, professionalism, discipline & work ethic?

He, clearly, has the respect of his peers and his coaches.


On SM-G973F using BigFooty.com mobile app
Same his leadership qualities didn't ever seem to be highlighted much in his draft profiles. He is going to be a ripper. Super quick with his hands and finds the goals too.
 
Way too much emphasis put on his height here.

Right?

"FFS I'm sick of these small 183cm midfielders we need someone with a bit more height, someone more like Petracca! He's... 186cm"
 
Aug 31, 2008
23,265
46,446
AFL Club
Hawthorn
Other Teams
Nuggets
Was he the best midfielder available at our pick? Yes. So the club doesn't perceive his height as an issue.

In hindsight (obviously before anyone has played) we are pretty vindicated in taking Ward over Johnson - who has slid and has been overlooked by two WA teams' selections. Overlooked by Richmond (who selected a HBF) who were crying out for a midfielder or two. Both Essendon and Sydney drafted midfielders over Johnson too.

I have a feeling Richmond take Ward if we didn't, and probably end up taking JVR with their second pick.
 
Way too much emphasis put on his height here.
Way too much emphasis put on height in the AFL in general. If a player has above average wingspan, shoulder joint range, and vertical leap then they could easily out reach taller opponents. Then there's other factors that effect a players effectiveness in the air like their ability to time a run and leap, one touch grabs, stamina for repeat efforts, etc.

Cyril was a better aerialist than most players taller than him.
 

PenAndPaper

Norm Smith Medallist
Oct 17, 2011
7,798
13,512
AFL Club
Hawthorn
Was he the best midfielder available at our pick? Yes. So the club doesn't perceive his height as an issue.

In hindsight (obviously before anyone has played) we are pretty vindicated in taking Ward over Johnson - who has slid and has been overlooked by two WA teams' selections. Overlooked by Richmond (who selected a HBF) who were crying out for a midfielder or two. Both Essendon and Sydney drafted midfielders over Johnson too.

I have a feeling Richmond take Ward if we didn't, and probably end up taking JVR with their second pick.
Tbf Richmond were crying out for a KPD more so Gibcus makes sense for them anyway.
 
Was he the best midfielder available at our pick? Yes. So the club doesn't perceive his height as an issue.

In hindsight (obviously before anyone has played) we are pretty vindicated in taking Ward over Johnson - who has slid and has been overlooked by two WA teams' selections. Overlooked by Richmond (who selected a HBF) who were crying out for a midfielder or two. Both Essendon and Sydney drafted midfielders over Johnson too.

I have a feeling Richmond take Ward if we didn't, and probably end up taking JVR with their second pick.

183cm definitely isn't short either, but if there's one quote I always liked it was from Boomer Harvey when he talked to other short draftees - "When the ball hits the deck, just remember that you're closer to it than the 190cm mids"
 
Ward is not a meat and potatoes pick. That's selling him too bloody short. Living the dream young ward playing for the team you love already. Looking forward to seeing him out on the track

I think you're underselling meat and potatoes, very versatile combo :p
 

Simon Crawshay

Premiership Player
Jun 4, 2016
4,806
13,069
AFL Club
Hawthorn
Right?

"FFS I'm sick of these small 183cm midfielders we need someone with a bit more height, someone more like Petracca! He's... 186cm"
Petracca is only a little bit taller at 186cm relative to most of our mids who are around the 181 to 185cm mark (apart from Nash of course who is 197cm)

What sets Petracca apart is the fact he is 97kgs which makes him crazy strong (especially around his core) and almost impossible to tackle.

You can see Worps and JOM sometimes try to break tackles with a don't argue but at 85kg (ish) they sometimes (often) dont have the power to do get away with it.

Mind you Petracca is an athletic freak that he can be 97kg and still cover the amount of ground he does, that's not easy to do!
 
Back