BEAU Waters sits in the same category as North Melbourne's 'Shinboner of the Century' Glenn Archer, West Coast coach Adam Simpson says.
The veteran Eagle retired on Thursday after succumbing to a shoulder injury that had kept him out of the game for 18 months.
Simpson never coached Waters in a game, but he did play against him and oversaw Waters' brave attempt to return to football.
The North Melbourne premiership player, a long-time teammate of Archer's, compared Waters to the toughest man he ever played with.
"There's not many players you can put in that category," Simpson said.
"I think everyone sits pretty comfortably putting Beau in that category.
"I spoke to the players earlier about the standing you get in the game, within an industry that's got a lot of good players. For people to ask what was it like to play with Beau, that probably typifies the type of player he was.
"People ask me all the time what was it like to play with Glenn Archer, it's the same category."
Waters was destined to be defined by his courage and will be remembered as much for the injuries sustained from his reckless disregard for his own body as he will for his premiership success or All Australian award.
The 28-year-old finished his career on 120 games after being taken with pick No.11 in the 2003 NAB AFL draft. West Coast played 257 matches in that period.
His close mate Adam Cooney, Essendon's Brent Stanton and Fremantle's David Mundy have all played more than 200 games from the same draft.
In three different seasons, 2005, 2009 and 2014, he did not play a single game.
Yet despite the pain and the rehabilitation of various injuries, Waters has no resentment.
"Never. I've never felt that way," Waters said.
"I've always felt blessed with the opportunity to play at the elite level.
"Just because you're talented, it doesn't give you the right to get continuity and resilience with your body.
"I always prided myself on preparing myself the best.
"I walk away just loving the last 12 years.
"I put a few kids through college via my surgeries, a couple of surgeon's children. So they're thankful as well.
"I'm still beeping through airports. The other day in the electrical storm I was a bit worried about walking outside. I'm like a lightning beacon.
"I walk away a really happy man. I've loved the experience and people I've met.
"No regrets, and never any resentment, particularly to the game or the club."
Waters said he only wanted to be remembered as a good teammate.
"I like to think I would've been a teammate that players wanted to play with," Waters said.
"That's sort of the attitude I tried to take into each game … just be really clear on what my role was and what I contribute to the team."
Judging by Simpson's comments, he achieved that.
Like Archer, teammates not only wanted to play with him, they played a foot taller because of him.
