Jack Ziebell is one of those players that carries a large weight of expectation around on the field. Like most high draft picks, fans and media anticipate greatness in quick time and when it doesn't happen in an instant, the questions come hard and fast.

It's been a bumpy ride this year for the Roos' vice-captain who has been in and out of the side with injury after hurting his shoulder, then knee. As a result, he admitted to The Age's Jon Pierik he hasn't had the season he would have liked.

"It's been a little bit frustrating,'' he said.

"Probably my output hasn't been what I wanted but I still think I am contributing to the team, playing my role. Hopefully, I will string a few games together at the end of the year.

"I have had a couple of injuries which have been frustrating but, as you know, you can't use that as an excuse. I am probably not going to be a guy that has it 35 times every week, as much as you would like to.

"It's just about what you can do with your possessions and how you use them. You can be a very influential player having 20 touches and get the ball inside 50 10 times and kick a couple of goals.

"You really benefit the team. For me, it starts inside the contest and making sure I am aggressive and physical and winning the contested footy. If I am doing that, I am playing my best footy, which is probably something I haven't done as well as I have in previous years, which has been a little frustrating.

"You just have to make sure you bring your best every week. Unfortunately, this year I haven't done that every week. [I have] had some good games, had some poor games. That's every footballers challenge - to bring the poor up to the good and then you have that little gap, which is what the elite do. I am trying really hard to do that."

Early comparisons to Brisbane Lions' champion Michael Voss haven't helped either with the 92-gamer under added pressure to perform as a result.

But according to Ziebell, it's Voss who might actually be able to assist him, rather than hinder. The 23-year-old suggests he might reach out to him for advice.

"That is something I will probably look into. To get something like that would be pretty good," Ziebell said.

"I have thought about that, even with a guy like [teammate] Ben Cunnington, we could go and have a chat with someone who plays that similar role.

"I think someone like Michael Voss would be pretty nice. We'll see how we go," he added.

"If I could be half the player Michael Voss was, I would be pretty happy.

"Obviously, Michael Voss is a jet and I love the way he went about his footy, just being the physical guy that got his team going. If I could have that sort of impact on our team, I would be very excited. I believe I can have an impact on our team. This year I haven't been as consistent as I would have wanted."

Ziebell is averaging 18 disposals a game this year, down slightly on 2013, but hopes to turn things around in the final five games of the home and away season. As one of the leaders at Arden Street, he knows he has to stand up when it counts.

"That's my role, I think. Along with our leaders and other senior players, you don't have to be in the leadership group to have a leading title, when things are going tough as a senior player, you have to step up and that is something I like to do as well," Ziebell added.

"It's a big five weeks for myself and for the team leading into the finals, as it is for every other team in the league."