FREMANTLE midfielder Byron Schammer has backed veteran Shaun McManus to play out the rest of the AFL season.

A newspaper report on the weekend suggested McManus, who gathered 20 disposals and booted a goal in Sunday's 46-point win over Melbourne, would announce his playing intentions on Monday for a farewell game against West Coast in round 18.

But no such announcement came, and Schammer instead urged his teammate to see out the season.

"Knowing Shaun as I do, I don't think he'll retire before the end of the year," Schammer said on Monday.

"I think he's a fighter and he's shown that in last three or four years.

"People have probably written him off 10 times in the last four years and he just shows his character.

"He's a fighter and he'll always give it his all to the Fremantle Football Club for himself and his family, so he deserves to play every game for the rest of the year.

"I love playing with him and everybody else grows another leg when Shaun's playing."

McManus had his sons Lachlan, Cooper and Oliver with him for the club song in the change rooms on Sunday, fuelling speculation that he may soon call it quits.

Schammer said it was just a case of 32-year-old soaking up a rare win in his final season of football.

"That was his first win for the club this year," Schammer said.

"Just to really enjoy it with the guys and his family was really important because he's not going to be around next year.

"I think he was just a little bit emotional in that sense so hopefully we can win the rest of the home games this year and he can keep soaking up the atmosphere."