Too brave for their own good?

Kangaroo Jack Ziebell doesn't hesitate when it's his turn to go. Source: George Salpigtidis / News Limited

THE collision midfielder is in danger of losing his position in our game.

He's required to temper his game more so than ever before. Before they become extinct and hold a title in the past, such as a utility, a full-forward or heaven forbid a first rover, here's a look at the best midfield warriors in the game.

They're the players who are too brave for their own good. They lead with their head and consider danger something someone else feels. They collect so many stitch marks on their heads, the statistics sheet has a column for it.

Within our once understood rules, they will, by those very rules crash you, bash you, bruise you and run over you.

And they cannot understand why you won't do it back. Most likely, they will feel insulted if you don't.

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Even though they will inflict themselves upon the opposition, they are also willing to hang onto the ball long enough for them to become the target, as long as they can identify the right teammate to pass the ball to. And history shows us that the longer you hang on to the ball the better the "lock on" target you become.

They are the essence of what our sport is proud to possess. In another time and in another theatre, they would be the first over the top on the Western Front. They are the type of warrior that makes us proud to love this sport.

JOEL SELWOOD

NOT only is he brilliant at his craft, but, if will power was quantifiable, he is the Don Bradman of desire.

In the Cats and Hawks first meeting last season, Brendan Whitecross clouted him. He should have been removed from the field for his own safety, but he chose to stay on and lead his team to victory like the banged up warrior that he was on that occasion. The kicker was, he played with clarity and ferocity right until the very end.

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Recently against Richmond with his head split open he kicked a clutch goal when needed. Very few players could have barged their way through that traffic.

Tonight he will physically lead the battle charge against a young group of Shinboners that boast hard heads like Ziebell and Cunnington.

Selwood is not a huge midfielder and he is not overly quick by league standards. But what he is incredibly brilliant at is hunting up the ball in the second and third contest after his initial play.

If you watch him tonight, you will see him attend the centre bounce and thereafter be taken down to the ground. And then somehow miraculously he can and will be seen to follow his own spillage ball out of the centre square. He hunts the ball with a relentless fury better than any other player in the competition.

Geelong's Joel Selwood gathers the ball with Fremantle's Matt de Boer and Nick Suban on his tail. Source: News Corp Australia

LUKE HODGE

HE has enough class by foot to be a pure "outside" player. He just happens to have a wrecking ball attitude. And when it's his turn, he takes what is coming.

Former Cat Cameron Mooney said that in the 2008 G.F. he kept telling Hodge he was going to keep putting his knee through Hodges rib cage when he dropped back loose in defence. Hodge apparently kept smiling and Moon's kept kneeing him in the marking contest. Mooney has a world full of admiration for the man that helped ruin his dream for that day.

Round 6: Richmond v Hawthorn MCG. April 27th 2014. Luke Hodge gets tackled high by Nathan Gordon. Picture: Colleen Petch. Source: News Corp Australia

CALLAN WARD

HE is a half-step behind most of the others for polish. But he is a heads down over the ball in the middle of the pack type player. He doesn't have too many scalps on his mantelpiece. He won't go out there and actively "hunt to hurt" an opposition player. But he is insanely brave. He has tunnel vision for the ball and little care for whatever is in the vicinity. This translates to having little care for his own safety.

His teammates past and present share a laugh about just how brave he is. They laugh at the old adage that "everyone has fear, it is how you master it." They actually don't believe he is born with the good common sense to recognise fear when it should be present.

LENNY HAYES

TIME has turned against Lenny and although he is no longer a bona fide A-grader, he once was not too long ago.

One look at how straight his nose is, or rather isn't, should tell you that Hayes frequently has put his head over the ball and into small spaces that a human head shouldn't fit. He was uncompromising in his attack on the ball and he was the epitome' of a collision midfielder.

Even though Hayes has a relatively quiet demeanour, he is a natural on-field leader by way of actions.

LUKE BALL

BALL is a warrior. Like Hayes, age has taken him down the ratings list of effective midfielders. He plays fourth fiddle in Collingwood's best midfield team these days and that could be fifth soon with Steele Sidebottom's development.

But he was once a bona fide star. And there was also a time, a half-a-season in fact when his head took more hits than an anvil. He was a champion. And by all rights he should be a little scrambled and not the erudite elder footballing statesman he is when questioned about any matter to do with football.

Luke Ball is as hard as they come. Picture: Simon Cross Source: News Corp Australia

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DAN HANNEBERY

No real scalps to speak of, except for the controversial bump on Hurley, but for an elite user of the ball he is as brave as they come. See the 2012 Grand Final contest with David Hale for proof.

RORY SLOANE

Four quarters against Sloane is apparently like being hammered for the same time. He will go anywhere and do anything to win the ball. And that includes getting air-born to lay tackles.

TOM ROCKLIFF

Rockliff has a very definite nasty streak. It is rare in this day and age. But he takes a backward step to no one. And he is an incredibly consistent ball winner.

NATHAN FYFE

An uncompromising attack on the footy and opposition has already landed Fyfe in hot water. But his bravery in the air is limitless.

JACK ZIEBELL

He was suspended on two separate occasions last year for his attack on the opposition. More untidy than malicious, he has had to mould his ways to coincide with the tightening rules of the day. And he will stand in line when it is his turn to face the music.