[1] Ward made his debut against St Kilda in round 11 of the 2008 season, collecting 12 disposals and finishing with one goal.

Ward had his best season for the Bulldogs in 2011, playing in all 22 games and averaging 21 disposals, including a 29-disposal, best-on-ground performance against Adelaide in round 13.

[4] Ward had a career-best season in 2015, playing all 22 games and averaging 25 disposals, and polling a club-record nineteen Brownlow votes.

[7] He returned against Geelong in round 4; however, five minutes into the game, he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury, ruling him out for the rest of the season.

[8] He later began assisting Giants coach Leon Cameron on the interchange bench during matches while recovering from his injury.

[11] He missed the round 5 match against Hawthorn due to soreness,[12] before suffering a right knee injury upon his return against Port Adelaide the following week.