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

[Dewyyyyy]

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.

Endurance is not his problem. He’s one of the harder workers and his workrate is extremely high. He’d be in the 3-5 best runners at the club.

 

[KermitJagger]

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.

Leaving aside Ward already being an elite mover, not sure where you're getting us not having elite runners from. We probably have the biggest spread of elite runners in the league.

CJ, Finn, Moore, Ward, Amon and Weddle would all be in most clubs top 3.

 

[H00t]

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.

It’s an incredibly high risk play. The players who use it have been doing it for a very long time.

I don’t see the upside in him getting done holding the ball a lot for the odd time he will break the tackle.

 

[Brishawk]

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

Im sure he is elite but we have weddle, finn and cj who are all ahead. I suspect you mean top 5

 

[Sixpence]

Im sure he is elite but we have weddle, finn and cj who are all ahead. I suspect you mean top 5

Pretty sure he usually comes in ahead of CJ in the time trials, and sometimes Finn too (though I'm too lazy to verify this). So you could argue he's top 3, given the day.

Butler and Croc seem like strong runners too.

 

[Dewnior]

I don’t see the upside in him getting done holding the ball a lot for the odd time he will break the tackle.

No one is saying he needs to learn how to do it in season. That's what preseason is for. Why would you limit a player from learning a new skill just because it may cost a turnover? That's a strange way to manage player development.

 

[Dewnior]

Im sure he is elite but we have weddle, finn and cj who are all ahead. I suspect you mean top 5

And Amon

 

[threesixpio]

View attachment 2266168Josh Ward's two-way running is going to be very vital to many crucial games for us in the next decade. And he is improving at using it for attacking forays. He has the attributes of Sam Walsh, if maybe not the superstar quality. But what he has that Walsh doesn't, or has seemingly become arrogant and complacent and lost, is the champion-winning mentality and intent. He is the pressure setter in that midfield, as he proved in the semi-final last year, and almost a barometer for the team.

And based on what I know from people who have connections to him, Wardy backs up his 99 ATAR in terms of his quality as a human being and character. Absolutely love the relationship he and Mackenzie are building on field and off it.

Hodge and Mitchell of the future?

(Maybe with a slightly more intellectual bent from young Ward……)

 

[threesixpio]

Day

On Pixel 6 using BigFooty.com mobile app

No surprises there. Day has gone up a level from already being awesome. Wanted to marry him twice in a Morman ceremony on Saturday

 

[threesixpio]

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.

 

[matey]

Wardy hit some passes on his right foot in the last quarter tight along the boundary line when the game was hot and it looked tidy ……… shows you how hard he works to always get better. Obviously Mitch has been into his ear! Heard that Mitch is also into Frenchie that he works on this as well but it’s still not good enough yet to pull it out in games.

 

[TheFourPillars]

Im sure he is elite but we have weddle, finn and cj who are all ahead. I suspect you mean top 5

So Amon is the surprise this year Weddle has been focusing on strength so has dropped back in his elite running. Finn usually finishes behind him in time trials

 

[H00t]

No one is saying he needs to learn how to do it in season. That's what preseason is for. Why would you limit a player from learning a new skill just because it may cost a turnover? That's a strange way to manage player development.

It’s about weighing up the upside of the skill, the risk of the skill and the time spent to learn it.

Even people that have been doing it for a long time get done holding the ball attempting it. Plus he hasn’t yet got the contested game to take advantage of it.

Learning new skills is great. I just don’t see the upside in spending a lot of time on something that might never develop and even if it does will get him into trouble. When there’s other parts of his game he could be refining that will see him improve a lot more.

 

[Randy Campbell]

View attachment 2266168Josh Ward's two-way running is going to be very vital to many crucial games for us in the next decade. And he is improving at using it for attacking forays. He has the attributes of Sam Walsh, if maybe not the superstar quality. But what he has that Walsh doesn't, or has seemingly become arrogant and complacent and lost, is the champion-winning mentality and intent. He is the pressure setter in that midfield, as he proved in the semi-final last year, and almost a barometer for the team.

And based on what I know from people who have connections to him, Wardy backs up his 99 ATAR in terms of his quality as a human being and character. Absolutely love the relationship he and Mackenzie are building on field and off it.

Wardy hit some passes on his right foot in the last quarter tight along the boundary line when the game was hot and it looked tidy ……… shows you how hard he works to always get better. Obviously Mitch has been into his ear! Heard that Mitch is also into Frenchie that he works on this as well but it’s still not good enough yet to pull it out in games.

Drafting and trading in Hawthorn supporters, must make things a lot easier for Sam.
Most of all the hard work, is already done.

 

[HedgeFund]

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.

I’d like Josh Ward to be Josh Ward, which he seems to be very good at right now.

Hence he should remain in the team (as will MacKenzie) for the next decade.

 

[Randy Campbell]

I’d like Josh Ward to be Josh Ward, which he seems to be very good at right now.

Hence he should remain in the team (as will MacKenzie) for the next decade.

I'd like Josh to just keep on improving.

 

[SSSSSS]

Starting to really drive out of congestion. Has been putting the work in with strength and conditioning.

 

[becalm]

It would be disappointing if Ward has to make way for the two players if fit that come in. His confidence has risen the last two games. He rely needs to continue playing right now.

 

[bigmaxi]

I'd like Josh to just keep on improving.

I think that you will, Josh being Josh he will push himself into that rarefied space reserved for elite players. Just keep watching.

 

[Sixpence]

I just like seeing everyone else jump on the train that Dewyyyyy and I have been driving the last couple of years!

 

[The Chad and I]

Some people seem to think Ward has had some kind of transformation.
This is just Josh Ward playing as a midfielder.
Always had it from the start.

 

[Reggie Mombasa]

Some people seem to think Ward has had some kind of transformation.
This is just Josh Ward playing as a midfielder.
Always had it from the start.

He is basically still playing on the wing. 16 CBAs in the Elimination Final last year (best game to date for the Hawks), but only 2, 8 and 3 CBAs in the 3 games so far this year. It is interesting to compare with 2023, when he averaged 21 disposals/game on the wing in 2023 (averaging 23 so far this year). The main improvements are meters gained (449 so far this year, 282 in '23), and tackles (4 vs 1.9).

 

[SSSSSS]

Hoyne from Champion Data absolutely gushing over Ward.

 

[HedgeFund]

I'd like Josh to just keep on improving.

Fortunately being Josh Ward seems to involve a commitment to ongoing work and self-improvement.

Elite talent with the right attitude.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

I just like seeing everyone else jump on the train that Dewyyyyy and I have been driving the last couple of years!

Took them long enough