FREMANTLE'S decision to honour Matthew Pavlich with a testimonial dinner on Friday night is no indication that 2015 will be the club legend's final year. 

After the success of the club's 20-year anniversary function in 2014, the club intends to hold one recognition event per year.  

Dockers chief executive Steve Rosich said while the function would be a worthy celebration of the six-time All Australian and six-time best and fairest winner's contribution, the club expected to discuss Pavlich's playing future at the end of the season. 

Pavlich is out of contract at the end of this season after signing a one-year extension last year.

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Rosich said the club was looking forward to celebrating Pavlich's career so far on Friday night.

"The essence of the evening is to celebrate and recognise the career of Matthew Pavlich, who has been just a terrific servant of both the football club but also the game," Rosich said. 

"So it'll be a lot of fun and entertainment and recognition for our captain and our most credentialed player in our history to date. 

"We're talking about a playing career which is ongoing.

"We haven't turned our attention to what other recognition elements we could do for Matthew. He does have life membership at the football club and I'm sure that's something that sits pretty proudly with him."

Past players and current teammates will participate in the formal proceedings and Pavlich and his father Steve will also speak.

It is the second testimonial function the club has held, following the celebration of former club captain and life member Shaun McManus back in 2006.

Rosich said he was really proud of the way the club had started to build a culture of honouring its short history.

"What we're looking to do is build these annual recognition events," he said.

"Last year we celebrated our 20-year anniversary. This year it's an event around Matthew and we're yet to decide what next year's recognition event will be but we've got a few options that we're currently considering."