EXCLUSIVE
East Fremantle president Mark Stewart will stand down after a decade at the helm of the club during which the Sharks won the 2023 WAFL premiership but experienced a disastrous return to their home at East Fremantle Oval.
Prominent finance figure Ennio Tavani is the leading candidate to replace him. Former board member Paul Chapman will also run for president.
Stewart will not contest next month’s election which is likely to see several premiership players join the board in a bid to help the Sharks overcome their contractual issues with the East Fremantle council and ground manager Belgravia.
Both Fremantle derbies are set to be played at Fremantle Oval next season given the unsuitability of East Fremantle Oval, which was redeveloped at a cost of $32 million, to host high profile matches.
And Brownlow medallist Shane Woewodin, a former East Fremantle captain and coach, is set to be appointed as football manager to replace Brad Dodd who has joined Perth.
Tony Micale, the premiership player and coach, and premiership wingman Jon Stagg, have joined former football director Darren Gaspar as candidates for the board.
Their bid to join the board comes as 1998 Sandover medallist and premiership player Adrian Bromage is set to be confirmed as permanent chief executive officer.
Bromage was appointed football manager in September but became interim CEO last month when Addy Wetzler left the role.
The shake-up at board level comes after a tumultuous period in which East Fremantle were unable to return to their home as turf problems made the ground unavailable.
SportFM has revealed numerous chapters in the saga in which the questionable deal with Belgravia, East Fremantle’s future at the ground and the need for further development to make the ground suitable for WAFL matches have been scrutinised.
IMAGE: Aus Stadiums