Shaun McManus
Encyclopedia
Shaun John McManus is a former Australian rules football
er. He is one of the most popular players to ever represent the Fremantle Football Club
in the Australian Football League
(AFL) and is often seen as an icon
or favourite son of the club. He has been described as the AFL's uphill skiing champion due to his courage, persistence and resilience in overcoming two knee reconstructions.
He was the co-captain of Fremantle in 2000 and 2001, the second player to reach 200 games with the club and his 228 games is the second most game played for Fremantle behind Shane Parker
. Following the retirement of Peter Bell
during the 2008 season, McManus became the last remaining player from Fremantle's inaugural squad to still be playing in the AFL.
, alongside future teammates Peter Bell
, Jeff Farmer
and Troy Cook
. He then won a premiership with East Fremantle
in the WAFL
in 1994, before being selected by Fremantle into their initial squad as a pre-draft selection prior to the 1994 AFL Draft
.
In Round 3, 1997, he suffered a knee injury in the season's first Western Derby and required a full reconstruction. He returned for the start of the 1998 season, but in Round 6 against Port Adelaide
he suffered a recurrence of the injury and required a second reconstruction.
. During the Round 4 2001 Western Derby
McManus displayed one of the most courageous acts seen in a derby when he ran back with the flight of the ball to take a mark, only to collide heavily with David Wirrpanda
. His resilience was displayed when he continued to play after the collision and kicked the goal from the resulting free kick. He played his 100th game for Fremantle in the second last game of 2001, becoming only the fifth player to do so.
In 2005, however, his form fell away and he struggled for selection. Amid calls for his retirement or delisting, he played on and had one of his best everseasons in 2006, playing all 22 home and away games and all three finals. In 2007 he was one of only five Fremantle players to play in all 22 matches. Despite this, the calls for retirement continued, especially as it became clear that Fremantle's 2008 season would not result in reaching the finals series. He even denied the rumours early in the season before announcing that his final game of AFL football would be in the Round 18 Western Derby at Subiaco Oval
.
McManus played his final game of football on 2008-08-03 against the West Coast Eagles
at Subiaco Oval
in which the Dockers won by 33 points. McManus received many tributes before and after the match and celebrated the closure of his career with a lap of honour around the oval before he was chaired from the ground by Matthew Pavlich
and Ryan Crowley
through an honour guard of past and present Fremantle players.
, inaugural Fremantle coach Gerard Neesham
and West Coast
's Daniel Kerr
are his cousins; he is also related to Con Regan
and Melbourne Cup
winning jockey
J. J. Miller
and he attended Corpus Christi College
in Bateman, Western Australia
being appointed as a player development manager.
In 2009 Shaun McManus joined the on-air personalities Nathan & Nat for breakfast on Perth radio station, Nova 93.7, replacing cricketer Ryan Campbell
. He also is the weekend sports newsreader on Nine News in Perth.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er. He is one of the most popular players to ever represent the Fremantle Football Club
Fremantle Football Club
The Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in the port city of Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL) and is often seen as an icon
Icon
An icon is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from Eastern Christianity and in certain Eastern Catholic churches...
or favourite son of the club. He has been described as the AFL's uphill skiing champion due to his courage, persistence and resilience in overcoming two knee reconstructions.
He was the co-captain of Fremantle in 2000 and 2001, the second player to reach 200 games with the club and his 228 games is the second most game played for Fremantle behind Shane Parker
Shane Parker (footballer)
Shane Parker is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Fremantle Football Club. He made his debut in 1995, Fremantle's inaugural year in the Australian Football League....
. Following the retirement of Peter Bell
Peter F. Bell
Peter Francis Bell is a former Australian rules footballer for the Fremantle Football Club and the North Melbourne Football Club. He played as a rover . A former captain of the Fremantle Football Club, Bell was twice named as a member of the All-Australian Team...
during the 2008 season, McManus became the last remaining player from Fremantle's inaugural squad to still be playing in the AFL.
Early career
McManus was a highly rated junior player who won the Larke Medal as the best player at the 1993 National Under 17 AFL Youth Championships. He represented Western AustraliaWestern Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, alongside future teammates Peter Bell
Peter F. Bell
Peter Francis Bell is a former Australian rules footballer for the Fremantle Football Club and the North Melbourne Football Club. He played as a rover . A former captain of the Fremantle Football Club, Bell was twice named as a member of the All-Australian Team...
, Jeff Farmer
Jeff Farmer (footballer)
Jeff Farmer is a former Australian rules footballer of Aboriginal descent. He was the first indigenous player to kick 400 goals in the Australian Football League .-Melbourne career:...
and Troy Cook
Troy Cook
Troy Cook is an Australian rules footballer. Cook plays for the Perth Football Club in the West Australian Football League.-Early career:...
. He then won a premiership with East Fremantle
East Fremantle Football Club
The East Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Sharks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The team's home ground is East Fremantle Oval...
in the WAFL
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
in 1994, before being selected by Fremantle into their initial squad as a pre-draft selection prior to the 1994 AFL Draft
1994 AFL Draft
The 1994 AFL Draft consisted of a pre-season draft, a national draft, a trade period and a rookie elevation. The AFL Draft is the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.In 1994 there...
.
Introduction to the AFL
McManus made his debut in Round 5 of 1995 and played all 18 remaining games for the year. He continued his good form into 1996 and despite missing 6 games with ankle injuries finished 10th in the Fremantle Best and Fairest award.In Round 3, 1997, he suffered a knee injury in the season's first Western Derby and required a full reconstruction. He returned for the start of the 1998 season, but in Round 6 against Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
he suffered a recurrence of the injury and required a second reconstruction.
Return from injury
He returned again in 1999 and played all but five games over the next six seasons. In 2000 his leadership qualities were recognised when he was awarded the co-captaincy of the club alongside Adrian FletcherAdrian Fletcher
Adrian Fletcher is a former Australian rules footballer and current assistant coach. He is regarded as one of football's nomads, having played for five Australian Football League clubs in his 13 year career...
. During the Round 4 2001 Western Derby
Western Derby
The Western Derby is the name given to the Australian rules football rivalry match between the Fremantle Football Club and West Coast Eagles, who both participate in the Australian Football League . As both teams are based in Western Australia, the term 'derby' is used to describe the...
McManus displayed one of the most courageous acts seen in a derby when he ran back with the flight of the ball to take a mark, only to collide heavily with David Wirrpanda
David Wirrpanda
David Selwyn Wirrpanda is a former Australian rules footballer, who played for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League between 1996 and 2009...
. His resilience was displayed when he continued to play after the collision and kicked the goal from the resulting free kick. He played his 100th game for Fremantle in the second last game of 2001, becoming only the fifth player to do so.
In 2005, however, his form fell away and he struggled for selection. Amid calls for his retirement or delisting, he played on and had one of his best everseasons in 2006, playing all 22 home and away games and all three finals. In 2007 he was one of only five Fremantle players to play in all 22 matches. Despite this, the calls for retirement continued, especially as it became clear that Fremantle's 2008 season would not result in reaching the finals series. He even denied the rumours early in the season before announcing that his final game of AFL football would be in the Round 18 Western Derby at Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval , known colloquially as Subi, is the highest capacity sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia...
.
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
at Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval , known colloquially as Subi, is the highest capacity sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia...
in which the Dockers won by 33 points. McManus received many tributes before and after the match and celebrated the closure of his career with a lap of honour around the oval before he was chaired from the ground by Matthew Pavlich
Matthew Pavlich
Matthew Pavlich is a professional Australian rules footballer currently playing with the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
and Ryan Crowley
Ryan Crowley
Ryan Crowley is an Australian rules footballer. He plays as a midfielder, half forward flanker or small forward and began his football career at Calder Cannons Football Club in the TAC Cup.-Fremantle career:...
through an honour guard of past and present Fremantle players.
Family connections
His family is well known in Fremantle: comedian Rove McManusRove McManus
John Henry Michael "Rove" McManus is an Australian comedian, television presenter, producer and media personality. He was the host of the self-titled variety show Rove, and is the owner of the production company Roving Enterprises...
, inaugural Fremantle coach Gerard Neesham
Gerard Neesham
Gerard Neesham is a former Australian rules footballer in the WAFL and VFL as well as coach in the WAFL and AFL. Today he is chief executive of the Clontarf Foundation.-Playing career:...
and West Coast
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
's Daniel Kerr
Daniel Kerr
Daniel Matthew Kerr is an Australian rules footballer.Kerr was recruited from East Fremantle Football Club and made his AFL debut in 2001 with the West Coast Eagles. He is a hard-running midfielder who is a vital part of the midfield at the Eagles.-Background:Kerr is of Anglo-Indian descent...
are his cousins; he is also related to Con Regan
Con Regan
Cornelius "Con" Regan was an Australian rules footballer for the East Fremantle Football Club in the West Australian National Football League from 1953 until 1965....
and Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
winning jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
J. J. Miller
J. J. Miller
John Miller is a former champion jockey and horse trainer. Miller rode more than 2200 winners in a career which started with his first win after just six races in 1947. He rode his last race in 1988 and then went on to a successful career as a trainer...
and he attended Corpus Christi College
Corpus Christi College, Perth
Corpus Christi College is a private, co-educational, Catholic, Secondary College, located in Bateman, a southern suburb of Perth, Western Australia....
in Bateman, Western Australia
Post-football career
At the end of the 2008 season McManus accepted a part-time role as player development coach. He was the second 2008 retiree to join Dockers football department, with Luke WebsterLuke Webster
Luke Webster is a midfielder or defender for the Fremantle Dockers in the AFL. He was drafted to Fremantle as the first selection in the 2001 AFL Rookie Draft and was elevated to the senior list during the 2003 season following an outstanding year for East Perth which included being awarded the...
being appointed as a player development manager.
In 2009 Shaun McManus joined the on-air personalities Nathan & Nat for breakfast on Perth radio station, Nova 93.7, replacing cricketer Ryan Campbell
Ryan Campbell
Ryan John Campbell is a former Australian cricketer who currently plays for ICL's Ahmedabad Rockets. Known as Cambo, he played for the Western Warriors as a wicket-keeper and as a quick-scoring right-handed batsman, often as an opener...
. He also is the weekend sports newsreader on Nine News in Perth.