WAFL 2024: Turf delays at Shark Park force East Fremantle to host Peel Thunder in Mandurah

East Fremantle will be forced to host Peel Thunder down in Mandurah as they continue to deal with delays in their return to Shark Park. The Sharks were hoping to finally unveil their upgrades and return home to East Fremantle Oval on Saturday, July 13 against the Thunder. Unfortunately for the Sharks, this has been further delayed by turf issues and will mean for the sixth time this year they will play a home game at another club’s venue. In an extraordinary move, their game against Peel has been moved to the Thunders’ home venue of Lane Group Stadium because there are no other grounds available that weekend. It comes after the Sharks confirmed in a statement during the week they’d have further delays at their home ground. “Last Wednesday, independent turf specialists undertook extensive testing of the oval. While there has been progression, there remains a handful of small areas that were flagged as non-compliant,” the statement said. “We have been in frequent and ongoing communication with the Town of East Fremantle and Programmed (turf contractor) since Wednesday and have received confirmation that additional work will be undertaken this week. “Cam Sutherland – former WACA curator – is now leading this project. Cam is confident that the work being undertaken this week will position the oval to be deemed safe for play this season. “The threshold for a new oval surface is higher than an existing surface, so we will continue to work with the turf experts and West Australian Football Commission to ensure all necessary work is undertaken to give us the best possible chance of getting onto the ground this year. The oval will be re-tested in mid-July. “As a club, we have expressed our disappointment at this ongoing delay, and we are working to finalise an alternative venue for our game on July 13, which will be confirmed shortly. “We understand that there is disappointment each time there is a date proposed, only for it to be postponed. We have followed the advice of turf experts each time that the ground would be viable to play on this year. The board is currently investigating exactly what has gone wrong with the oval. “We have taken a firm stance in engaging local government and we will continue to fight for the club’s right to thrive as an important part of the local community. We don’t deserve anything less – and we won’t accept anything less.”