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

[Titch3Votes0MooreAA]

He has the superstar qualities and has what Walsh doesn’t in being able to be an elite user with great vision and composure. Not comparable. I like looking at Merrett for a comparison, both classy left footers with creativity by foot and hand, tough, inside and outside with consistency and hard work.

Yeah, he is certainly more comparable to Merrett. I was mainly talking about his two-way running and endurance. What I think makes Walsh a superstar level that I don't think Ward quite has is that burst and time of space (or at least as much) that Walsh seems to have. Walsh also seems to be able to get in the right spaces going forward (but Ward is getting better). But you're right, Merrett is a lot better comparison.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

Yeah, he is certainly more comparable to Merrett. I was mainly talking about his two-way running and endurance. What I think makes Walsh a superstar level that I don't think Ward quite has is that burst and time of space (or at least as much) that Walsh seems to have. Walsh also seems to be able to get in the right spaces going forward (but Ward is getting better). But you're right, Merrett is a lot better comparison.

Ward definitely has the burst of speed and power. Hasn’t shown it consistently which will come with more confidence.

 

[KermitJagger]

Ward is currently the Hawks 2nd highest rated player across the season

 

[VandoHawk]

Yeah, he is certainly more comparable to Merrett. I was mainly talking about his two-way running and endurance. What I think makes Walsh a superstar level that I don't think Ward quite has is that burst and time of space (or at least as much) that Walsh seems to have. Walsh also seems to be able to get in the right spaces going forward (but Ward is getting better). But you're right, Merrett is a lot better comparison.

Walsh can't hit the broad side of a barn these days. Ward slices kicks.

 

[Titch3Votes0MooreAA]

Walsh can't hit the broad side of a barn these days. Ward slices kicks.

Yes, which is why Dewyyyyy is right that he's a lot closer to Merrett. Ward certainly has him beat for kicking, and Ward's vision and prediction of what will happen ahead of the ball are looking a lot better right now than Walsh's over the last few years. Just want it to be known, I think Ward could be a Brownlow-caliber one day. But I just think he would do it more in the mould of Tom Mitchell than an out-and-out superstar like Will Day will hopefully be.

 

[I wanna pash Nash]

Ward is currently the Hawks 2nd highest rated player across the season

Just curiously who is number 1? Moore?

 

[MC_9]

Just curiously who is number 1? Moore?

Day

On Pixel 6 using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[moginie]

Walsh can't hit the broad side of a barn these days. Ward slices kicks.

Walsh is also cooked by the game style that Voss has implemented.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

I love how he doesn't need to break stride to hit a 35m kick that cut through the wind.

He's an excellent user of the ball and is really finding the hang of playing more as an outside midfielder / winger. We want to feed the ball out to him as much as possible.

 

[TylerDurden]

Works as hard as anyone you'll see. And has a huge engine.

 

[H00t]

He’s now getting involved when he’s not in the midfield. Really improved his outside game. He’s cemented his place in the team now.

Even with Worpel coming back

 

[TheFourPillars]

He is being trusted with the ball

 

[pd_89]

I always believe that no matter how good a player is....just don't be outworked and that is what I love about Ward.

The bloke never stops running during a game and is always an option and when you refuse to be outworked, good things will happen. Can't ask for more from Ward.

 

[JZedd]

He’s now getting involved when he’s not in the midfield. Really improved his outside game. He’s cemented his place in the team now.

Even with Worpel coming back

Once Ward develops a strong don't argue,
He'll cut teams to pieces because it will give him extra time, considering he's such a good user of the footy. Worpel is a great example of the don't argue. For mine Worpel is similar to Brad Sewell at his best, maybe a little better. 100 percent team first players.

 

[H00t]

Once Ward develops a strong don't argue,
He'll cut teams to pieces because it will give him extra time, considering he's such a good user of the footy. Worpel is a great example of the don't argue. For mine Worpel is similar to Brad Sewell at his best, maybe a little better. 100 percent team first players.

I’m not sure he will develop a strong don’t argue. It’s not overly common across the league. Also he doesn’t need to. We have the mids to do the inside work so that Ward can benefit on the outside.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

Yes, which is why Dewyyyyy is right that he's a lot closer to Merrett. Ward certainly has him beat for kicking, and Ward's vision and prediction of what will happen ahead of the ball are looking a lot better right now than Walsh's over the last few years. Just want it to be known, I think Ward could be a Brownlow-caliber one day. But I just think he would do it more in the mould of Tom Mitchell than an out-and-out superstar like Will Day will hopefully be.

Completely different to someone like Mitchell. Who I liked a lot but he was a freak contested player who dominated the contest, used his creative hands and found space through his work rate. Ward has a massive gap with his class and kicking that Mitchell didn’t have.

 

[mustang]

Completely different to someone like Mitchell. Who I liked a lot but he was a freak contested player who dominated the contest, used his creative hands and found space through his work rate. Ward has a massive gap with his class and kicking that Mitchell didn’t have.

I'd like to see Ward work on his endurance and become our elite runner in the side and be this team's Shane Crawford, Chance Batman something this side doesn't have.

 

[CHUBBSS]

Just keep pumping games into him

 

[kazzooka]

I always believe that no matter how good a player is....just don't be outworked and that is what I love about Ward.

The bloke never stops running during a game and is always an option and when you refuse to be outworked, good things will happen. Can't ask for more from Ward.

Has done exactly what he needed to do. He was out of the team slightly at round 0 then like last year dominated at Box Hill and when given the chance has played well, and now Worpel coming back is someone else's problem.

I never had doubts Ward would be a 200 gamer, I just had fears that it would be at another club.

 

[TheFourPillars]

I'd like to see Ward work on his endurance and become our elite runner in the side and be this team's Shane Crawford, Chance Batman something this side doesn't have.

ummm Ward is in the top 3 runners at the club he is already elite

 

[Blackhawk42]

Yeah, he is certainly more comparable to Merrett. I was mainly talking about his two-way running and endurance. What I think makes Walsh a superstar level that I don't think Ward quite has is that burst and time of space (or at least as much) that Walsh seems to have. Walsh also seems to be able to get in the right spaces going forward (but Ward is getting better). But you're right, Merrett is a lot better comparison.

I'd still take Merrett over Walsh 9 times out of 10 if I'm honest.

 

[matey]

ummm Ward is in the top 3 runners at the club he is already elite

In the combine Wardy came 2nd in the 2km time trial (and Croc 8th) and as you already know T4P he was up in the front pack when he first turned up ……. total pro in his training/preparation already.

Obviously Sam requested a certain trait to have when drafting at that stage of our rebuild which suited the game style he wants to play!

 

[Dewnior]

The Langford curse. Whatever Langford did in 2014 to shut his inner monologue up and just play footy was sublime - sadly he seemed to lose it the remainder of his career. Ward is a smart kid like Langers - I hope the sports psychs work with him to just trust in himself and stop overthinking it.

Will had interests outside footy. Once he obtained his footy dream he moved on to those other pursuits.

Ward on the other hand seems so focussed on improving his craft and will become a 250 game player for us.

 

[Dewnior]

For mine Worpel is similar to Brad Sewell at his best, maybe a little better. 100 percent team first players.

Different players and skills. Worps is a more offensive footballer whereas Brad was more defensive. I assume this is due to the relative differences in their speed.

Brad became a very smart footballer with great awareness, something Worps still needs to work on.

 

[Dewnior]

I’m not sure he will develop a strong don’t argue. It’s not overly common across the league. Also he doesn’t need to. We have the mids to do the inside work so that Ward can benefit on the outside.

If he can develop one, it will add a completely new dimension to his game. With Punky, Worps, Day and the like to teach him, I can't see why he can't develop this skill.