FREMANTLE is set to lose its last foundation player, with Shaun McManus confirming that Sunday's game against West Coast will be his last.

The 32-year-old will retire with 228 games to his credit after 14 years with the club.

He is the last remaining member of the original playing list with which Fremantle entered the AFL in 1995.

After a difficult year, McManus has worked his way back into the side over the last two weeks and savoured victories over Melbourne and Port Adelaide, joining 100-gamer Byron Schammer in the middle of the circle after Sunday's win in Adelaide over the Power.

McManus said he could hardly believe it was all over but was comforted by the fact that he gave it his all.

"This is really surreal and I'm sure it won't sink in for quite awhile. It's probably when training starts up again when it will really hit home," McManus said.

"I've given my heart and soul to the club and I'm not sure anyone before me has done that. I'm sitting next to Pav (Matthew Pavlich) and he's on his way to doing that as is Hase (Paul Hasleby) and some others, but inside these walls hopefully people appreciate that I've put everything into it and see me as an important part of their lives."

McManus revealed that his career was almost over three years ago, but is glad that he played three more seasons. He has long been criticised by those outside the club but hasn’t let that get to him.

"I had a conversation with Chris Connolly in 2005 where the writing was on the wall, so fortunately I was able to turn that around and play three more seasons, which has been fantastic," he said.

"General supporters of Fremantle have been right behind me and I have never lost the confidence of the people that I care about at the club. At times I have lost confidence of members of the media group who have decided to take pot shots at me but I don’t think at any stage I have yielded to any of that negativity."

McManus will certainly miss being a full-time footballer, but could play with WAFL club East Fremantle next season and would like to pursue a career in coaching.

"Coaching is definitely a realistic career path. I've certainly been through the ringer and if any player, young or old, has a difficulty I'm sure I've experienced it and can help them out along the way," he said.

"I've never seen how the coaching panel works on game day or during the week and I have no idea what they really get up to, so I'd like to get involved in that."

McManus obviously never got to play in a grand final, but didn’t mince words when saying where he'll be when Fremantle does win its first premiership. He also wasn’t afraid to let the public in on Clive Waterhouse's role in his famous derby collision with David Wirrpanda.

"We were one game away from the grand final two seasons ago and when Fremantle wins its premiership I will be knocking Pav off the stage to hold the cup," he said.

"I was finding it hard to come to and I didn’t know what happened, but Clive Waterhouse came up to me and told me to stay down so he could take the kick. I then sprang to my feet pretty quickly, lined the goals up the best I could and it worked out well."