On the eve of his 250^th game, Jonathan Brown has earned the praise from former Senior Coach Leigh Matthews, who lists the inspirational centre half-forward as the most courageous player he has seen.

It is quite the complement, particularly coming from a man who himself was considered one of the greatest – and hardest – players to ever play the game.

Matthews’ opinion is one that’s shared by many throughout the football community, with Brown boasting multiple Club and AFL Most Courageous Player awards among his long list of individual accolades.

“The memory of Browny will always be the absolute fearlessness, you could almost call it dumb courage, if he wants the footy he ignores all else that is on the field,” Matthews told The Courier Mail.

There have been countless display of trademark Brown courage throughout his journey, from his Mark of the Year in 2002 to his recovery from three consecutive facial fractures.

“That mark, I don’t think any of us have done that, Wayne Carey’s trademark was leaping back with the flight into packs, but even he wasn’t sprinting back 40m,” Matthews said.

Injuries and suspensions might have cost Brown around 80 games on the sidelines, but the three-time premiership star understands that it’s part of the game.   

“It has been a hard road, it is a frustrating a little bit when I look back on that but I have always prided myself on playing a physical brand of footy and it was always going to come at a price,” Brown told The Courier Mail.

“My basic ethos is to get to as many contests as I possibly can, it has been from the start, and I guess you are going to be a bit of a battering ram when you operate on that principle.”