TonyK
CibbuanoMcManus calls it quits
July 29th 2008 01:39
FREMANTLE veteran Shaun McManus will retire after this weekend's western derby against West Coast.
The 228-game veteran, who is the Dockers' last remaining foundation player said it wasn't an easy decision to retire.
"It was a difficult decision to come to in the sense that you always want to play forever," said McManus.
"And, the enjoyment I've had of putting on my jumper and representing the club, the community, the supporters has been amazing and to come to the decision, to give that up is a difficult one."
"This is really surreal. I've seen so many other people do this, had to stand here or sit here and do this today, (I'm) sure it won't sink in for quite a while."
"(But) I think that I've really, really given my heart and soul for this club ... I've let everybody know what type of person I am. I've let them get to know me in all kinds of areas and ...
hopefully, at this club, inside these rooms, people appreciate that and see me as an important part of their life," he said.
McManus said he wanted to finish his career on a high note.
"I wanted to play a few more games just to show that before, when I wasn't traveling too well or moving too well, it was an aberration not the end of my career, or me hobbling off the field," said McManus.
"And, I feel now that I've played a few games and I've showed that I'm running around in good spirits ... that it's a good time to move on."
Fremantle coach Mark Harvey said the 32-year-old had made an enormous contribution to the club.
"With Shaun, when you look back at Fremantle and its inception, the place needed someone to stand up and Shaun's done that for 14 years now," Harvey said.
"When they write the history books of Fremantle, Shaun will be chapter one of where it begun and that's how I see Shaun."
The 228-game veteran, who is the Dockers' last remaining foundation player said it wasn't an easy decision to retire.
"It was a difficult decision to come to in the sense that you always want to play forever," said McManus.
"And, the enjoyment I've had of putting on my jumper and representing the club, the community, the supporters has been amazing and to come to the decision, to give that up is a difficult one."
"This is really surreal. I've seen so many other people do this, had to stand here or sit here and do this today, (I'm) sure it won't sink in for quite a while."
"(But) I think that I've really, really given my heart and soul for this club ... I've let everybody know what type of person I am. I've let them get to know me in all kinds of areas and ...
hopefully, at this club, inside these rooms, people appreciate that and see me as an important part of their life," he said.
McManus said he wanted to finish his career on a high note.
"I wanted to play a few more games just to show that before, when I wasn't traveling too well or moving too well, it was an aberration not the end of my career, or me hobbling off the field," said McManus.
"And, I feel now that I've played a few games and I've showed that I'm running around in good spirits ... that it's a good time to move on."
Fremantle coach Mark Harvey said the 32-year-old had made an enormous contribution to the club.
"With Shaun, when you look back at Fremantle and its inception, the place needed someone to stand up and Shaun's done that for 14 years now," Harvey said.
"When they write the history books of Fremantle, Shaun will be chapter one of where it begun and that's how I see Shaun."
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