The midfield battle will decide Hawthorn's fate when they face the GWS Giants in this weekend's cutthroat elimination final.
Young Hawthorn midfielder Josh Ward looms as a pivotal figure for the Hawks if they are to emerge victorious and advance to the second week of September.
Speaking ahead of Saturday's do-or-die clash, Ward revealed the optimistic mood within the club ahead of a second finals series under head coach Sam Mitchell.
The Hawks head into the finals with an impressive 15-8 record, but despite this strong showing, the eighth-placed Hawks have no margin for error in their finals campaign.
"It's been talked about a little bit within the group, just how it's a four-week season," Ward explained.
"Now it's a new season, and you win four games and you win the premiership.
”That's been acknowledged and discussed, and we're ready to go now for the four-week season."
The 22-year-old midfielder acknowledged the mix of emotions surrounding the team's preparations for the finals.
"Some excitement, some nerves, and a bit of trepidation, but really looking forward to it."
Ward has emerged as a consistent performer this season, which has been particularly important given the absence of star midfielder Will Day, as well as injuries and suspensions affecting key personnel James Worpel and Conor Nash.
His development has been evident through his most consistent AFL season to date.
The turning point in Ward's career came during Hawthorn's elimination final victory against the Western Bulldogs in 2024, where he delivered arguably his best performance.
Ward had found himself out of the side during the Hawks' late-season charge, before a hamstring injury to fellow young gun Cam Mackenzie on the cusp of finals presented Ward with an opportunity he grasped with both hands.
In the Hawks' 37-point victory that evening, Ward recorded a career-high nine tackles, five clearances and five score involvements in front of the 97,000-strong crowd on the hallowed MCG turf.
That breakthrough moment proved transformative for his self-belief.
"That final was, I think, huge for my confidence and belief that I could play at the level," Ward reflected.
Since experiencing finals football, Ward has been remarkably reliable, missing just one game following his late-season recall in 2024.
This consistency has helped him cement his place in a Hawthorn team that has now reached consecutive finals series.
Ward attributes his improved form to years of dedicated work finally coming to fruition.
With greater maturity and a deeper understanding of Hawthorn's system, he believes he's beginning to showcase his true potential.
"I think it's just a culmination of kind of just keeping on chipping away and trying to learn as much as I can and sort of the results have sort of suddenly come, it seems like, but I feel like the work's been there for the last four years," he said.
"I am starting to get a bit of reward for it, but I've still got a long way to go."
Much of Ward's development can be attributed to his work with Hawthorn midfield coach David Hale, who has been instrumental in his career-best 2025 season.
Hale, recently linked to the vacant Melbourne head coaching position, has helped Ward average impressive numbers of 20.7 disposals, 3.2 clearances, 3.7 inside 50s, and 5.4 score involvements in his fourth season at Waverley Park.
"He's been great for me this year," Ward said of Hale's influence.
"We've spoken a lot about what my strengths look like and how I can bring what I can do to this team, and what it looks like when I'm playing well.
“We review each game very closely, and he's helped identify some things that are very controllable that I can do each week to give me a good chance to play well."
Ward has formed an effective partnership with Jai Newcombe, creating a formidable midfield combination that has helped guide the team during Will Day's absence.
Newcombe, who will play his 100th game in the elimination final, has become both an inspiration and a standard-setter for Ward through his training approach and on-field leadership.
"He's been great for me," Ward said of his midfield partner.
"He's very direct and leads by example on the field."
“I feel like I've really enjoyed that.
”It's something that is really important in our team to have those players that, you know, don't pull any punches and can hit you between the eyes.
“He's a pretty inspirational player to play with.
”I've tried to sort of train like him, take his aggression and hard work on the training track."
Drafted with the Pick 7 in the 2021 AFL National Draft, Ward arrived at Hawthorn with significant expectations but initially struggled to secure regular midfield opportunities.
In his first three seasons, he managed only 32 games, moving between the senior level and the reserves while playing for Hawthorn's VFL affiliate, Box Hill.
During this challenging period, Hawthorn's Head of Development, Andy Collins, played a crucial role in helping Ward understand the demands of AFL football and maintain his development trajectory.
"One of his big strengths, I think, is how much he cares for you as a person," Ward said of Collins.
"So you always know that whatever he's telling you, he can be hard, but it's what you need, and it always comes from a place of love, and he's made a real effort.
”Since I got to the club, he has got to know you as a person, and I feel like he's someone I always feel comfortable talking to about anything.
”He's been great for me."
This weekend's elimination final gives Hawthorn a crucial chance to overcome their interstate struggles after managing just one win in six away games during the regular season.
Recent months have seen the Hawks fall short against quality opposition, including minor premiers Adelaide, Fremantle, and Brisbane, with particularly frustrating losses where they led at three-quarter time in two of those encounters.
Despite these setbacks, Ward remains confident in Hawthorn's ability to compete with the competition's elite teams when it matters most.
"I felt like we played well and played sort of our brand, and just couldn't quite get over the line," he said of those narrow defeats.
"We just need to go out and do our thing and give ourselves a chance.
“I feel like we can beat anyone on our day when we play our way and get our brand right.
”We've spoken about when we bring our strengths into our game style, it's a game style that can stack up in multiple different situations."
Ward's belief in Hawthorn's future was recently reinforced when he signed a four-year contract extension, keeping him at the club until the end of 2029.
As the Hawks prepare to face the Giants, he's motivated to reward the club's loyal supporters and break an eight-game losing streak at Engie Stadium.
Having grown up as a lifelong Hawthorn supporter, Ward deeply appreciates how much the fans' energy can lift the team in crucial moments.
"They've been great all year," he said of the Hawks faithful.
"It's a great feeling when you hear the Hawks crowd roar when we do something good.
"I love interacting with them and seeing them after games, and hopefully we can get a good crowd of energy to give us a bit of a boost."
To hear the full interview with Josh Ward, click the link: https://bit.ly/3JGYToo
