AFL games: 14
Disposals per game: 19.1
Tackles: 2.9
Clearances: 2.7
Marks: 3.8

Season summary:

After being selected as Hawthorn’s top draft pick from a year ago, Ward worked hard to carve out an important role in the midfield in his debut season.

Despite injury, the youngster managed to play 14 games for the year, where he averaged 19 disposals and almost three clearances per outing.

Ward’s work rate and appetite for the contest saw him take some big strides in development.

So much so, the 19-year-old was one of two young Hawks who received a Rising Star nomination this year.

Best AFL game:

Ward put in his strongest performance in Hawthorn’s 25-point win over the West Coast Eagles in Round 18. In a showing that saw him earn a Rising Star nod, Ward collected a career-high 34 disposals, which included six clearances, seven marks and five tackles.

How the coaches saw him:

“Josh earned his respect early with his work rate, he is a really high worker as a midfielder to contest. I thought he developed really well over the course of the year, to come in and do what he did in his first year I think is a feather in his cap – he’s a great listener and wants to learn a lot and he has great leadership potential down the track. He knows what he wants, he is really strong and really hungry so we're really excited for him. Once he built belief that he belonged at the level, then he really took his game to another level. We saw the excitement for what the future holds for him.” – Robert Harvey