RETIRING West Coast veteran Michael Braun may not have received the accolades heaped on his champion teammates in the past, but there is one aspect of his game that best mate and former teammate Chad Morrison says is legendary.

Braun, the second shortest player on West Coast's list at 175cm, was selected at No.56 in the 1996 NAB AFL Draft. He went on to play in 222 games with the club, including the 2006 premiership.

Morrison was at Subiaco Oval on Monday to see Braun announce his retirement, and said it was the wingman's work rate that allowed him to become a champion at West Coast.

"Brauny's name is not put up there with the superstars of the game, but his work rate and his running is up there with the best of them, purely from mental strength," Morrison told afl.com.au.

"To get the most out of himself he'll push himself in the weights room, obviously on the running track and in everything he does. He always does the extra work to make sure he's prepared the best he can, and to make sure he achieves everything he can on the weekend.

"The players are as fit as each other, but it's the players that are willing to push themselves physically, and most of all mentally, that get the most out of themselves, and he does that."

Morrison would know. He arrived at West Coast a year before Braun and played 148 games in the blue and gold before moving to Collingwood for the 2005 season. But the pair first played football together as schoolkids in Victoria.

"We pretty much started footy together at the age of nine. I took him down to the footy club," Morrison said.

"We were mates from school, played little athletics and football together and I like that we ended up at the same AFL club.

"We were close friends as kids and that friendship's lasted all our lives so far."

The friendship was drawn on during what Braun said was, until his retirement on Monday, the toughest moment of his career – missing the 2005 grand final with a knee injury sustained a week earlier.

"I was at Collingwood at the time, but as soon as he got to Melbourne for that grand final weekend I was with him pretty much all day Friday, just myself and him, and we just hung out, had a few quiet ales and a chat," Morrison said.

"Just trying to be real positive and being there as a support as well.

"And his never-give-up attitude was there for the next year and he got the maximum reward, which he thoroughly deserved."

Braun said the 2006 premiership was a dream come true and allowed him to retire "proud and satisfied" with all he had achieved. Morrison said Braun's achievements would resonate for some time at West Coast.

"Obviously training the hardest, pushing yourself at training, that's where it all happens and if any young player coming through at the football club now can gain something from Michael Braun it is that," he said.

"He's not the captain of the side, but I'm sure he's one of the most respected blokes at the football club."