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East Fremantle have received permission to operate without a fence in the unlikely event that East Fremantle Oval will host league matches this season.
But the reigning WAFL premiers will not be allowed to go ahead with their contentious plans to install a one-off fence for the round 18 derby against archrival South Fremantle.
The WA Football Commission board voted this week to give East Fremantle an exemption from the WAFL regulation that mandates fences at all league matches.
The exemption will only apply this season and must apply to all visiting teams.
The absence of a fence was a condition of East Fremantle council’s support for the $35 million redevelopment of the ground.
East Fremantle spent two seasons playing their home games at the WACA Ground while the new facility was built.
They planned to open their redeveloped ground on May 11 but slow growth in the playing surface have made it highly unlikely the ground will be fit for football this year.
South Fremantle have been sounded out about having East Fremantle as a co-tenant this season and for up to six games a year from next year.
East Fremantle president Mark Stewart was bullish about his team’s chances of playing at home this season.
Asked on SportFM’s Before the Football whether the club had an alternative if the ground became unavailable, Stewart insisted:
“Plan B is Plan A.”
“Unless lightning strikes the grass, we will be playing at East Fremantle this year,” he said.
The Sharks are scheduled to play as the away team for the first six rounds this season.
They will start with negative four points after being penalised for a salary cap breach in 2022.
IMAGE: FILE