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East Fremantle President Mark Stewart says the club will take it's time in working through the process of whether to re-appoint coach Bill Monaghan.
Monaghan is out of contract at the end of the year, but Stewart said there was no rush to re-sign him as he enters his fifth year with the club.
“We’ll start the conversation when it’s right. At the end of the day, you don’t want things to be distractions, but at the same time, you want to back the processes,” he said.
“We’ll continue to have conversations to do what’s right for the club and also for Bill. I don’t think you should be slow on something but I don’t think you should rush anything, I think it’s important to do things in an orderly way.
“I just really love the way that Bill goes about his business, he’s a very good leader of men, the way that he communicates, the way he goes about what he does.”
The delayed redevelopment of East Fremantle Oval is now underway, with the Sharks in the final year of their two year agreement to play their home games at the WACA Ground.
Stewart said the project was not immune to widespread delays in the construction industry and did not rule out extending the agreement with WA Cricket to play at the WACA, but said works were progressing well and interruption to pre-season training had been minimal.
“Sometimes we’re using community ovals, sometimes we're down at Cockburn, there’s a chance we can train at the WACA, so it’s really about working with other sports while trying to make sure everyone can get a run on the oval,” he said.
“You’d hope we’re in there in the first quarter of the next year, but I think you’ve also got to be realistic in supply chains and materials and labour and how all that works.
“I think it’s easy to get frustrated, but we’re building something that’s going to be there for the next 50 years, so if it takes an extra month or two, I think we’ve just got to be patient to get it right.”
East Fremantle made last year's WAFL preliminary final and Stewart is confident the side can build on 2022.
The Sharks are celebrating their 125th anniversary this year and are looking to win the Premiership for the first time since 1998, with last season a significant improvement on a number of down years.
Stewart said the club was progressing well both on and off field.
“Every year your aim is to play finals and have a crack, and the boys are doing everything they can,”
“It’s been way too long between drinks and it’s something that we’re working hard towards addressing.
“It’s a great opportunity for everyone in the 125th year for everyone to get on-board the Shark express and be a part of where we’re going and what we’re doing.”
The WAFL fixture is expected to be announced in the coming weeks, with complications caused by clubs pushing back against the WAFC’s plan to extend the season by two weeks and hold the Grand Final in October.
IMAGE: Pixell Photography