2013–14 pre-season. Ward signed with Newcastle Jets as injury cover at the end of December 2013. On 28 February 2015, Ward signed with Western Sydney Wanderers, making his debut in a 3–0 loss to Melbourne Victory, and unfortunately for Ward, suffering an Anterior Cruciate Ligament tear. Ward returned to football in June 2017, signing with National Premier Leagues Victoria side Bentleigh Greens. In 2018, he moved to Indian I-League side NEROCA, and appeared in two league matches. International career After his season had concluded with Perth Glory, Ward was selected by Australia in an extended squad for its opening Asian Cup qualifier with Bahrain. Ward was named on the bench, but did not play on the field. In December 2006 the then Socceroos manager Graham Arnold believed that Ward (lacking game time under the management of Queens Park Rangers at the time) should be playing continental European competitions (e.g. Belgium, Netherlands), where there was (in Arnold's opinion) better ball delivery and midfield play than in the English Championship. Those comments could be interpreted as a preliminary reason not to select Ward in forthcoming Socceroos friendlies at the time. Ward's absence from more recent squads could be attributed to his lack playing minutes at Melbourne Victory (due to injuries and club coach Ernie Merrick's preference for more experienced players in his positions) and the success of other similar young players in transitioning their career to European clubs (including Nick Carle, Dario Vidosic, Nikita Rukavytsya and Brett Holman). His exclusion from the Olyroos squad for the 2008 Beijing Olympics was a major disappointment especially after being a regular squad member under coach Rob Baan in Australia's qualification path. Club career statistics Honours With Melbourne Victory: A-League Championship: 2008–2009 A-League Premiership: 2008–2009 With Perth Glory: NSL Championship: 2003–2004 Personal honours: A-League Young Player of the Year: 2005–2006 Perth Glory Member's Player of the Year: 2005–2006 References External links Melbourne Victory profile FFA – Olyroo profile 1985 births Living people Soccer players from Perth, Western Australia Australian soccer players Australian expatriate soccer players Australian expatriate sportspeople in England A-League Men players English Football League players Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. players Melbourne Victory FC players Perth Glory FC players Wellington Phoenix FC players Western Sydney Wanderers FC players Newcastle Jets FC players Queens Park Rangers F.C. players Bentleigh Greens SC players National Soccer League (Australia) players Articles containing video clips NEROCA FC players I-League