GEOFF DUNSTONE is a proud supporter of the East Fremantle Sharks. He says the club, its players, and its members, have been dudded in the redevelopment of East Fremantle Oval.

IN these torrid times, it might seem trivial to be writing about local football, however footy on a weekend is an escape from the realities and trials of the world.

Shark Park has been an icon in East Fremantle for many years  and has now undergone an extensive redevelopment; the old stands and buildings demolished, a dog park and skate park added.

However, driving past the site now, it is just another anodyne sports ground. 

Where is the signage?

Where is the Shark Logo? 

Where are the flags?

East Fremantle council which owns the site appears to have eliminated any sign that this is the home of one of the most successful clubs in the WAFL.

There is a 400-seat grandstand that could grace a reasonably good high school, a grandstand that incidentally has no handrails down its sloping stair, a trap for a club whose member’s average age is around 55 years old.

There is a nice, but characterless bar and restaurant, but no memorabilia; to cap it all there is no fence around the oval. 

There are also numerous privately own gyms that take up most of the public access in the building; this was never mentioned at any meeting I attended when the development was being promoted .

History

The Bowling Club, that also has a wonderful history, has nice rinks, but again nowhere to place memorabilia as they share the bar area with the Sharks.

Needless to say, members of the football club are bemused and angry that this is what a grand football history has come to.

Where is the clubroom for members and players pre- and post-game, to congregate?

One can only assume that the council detests football and is determined to sideline it.

The WA Football Commission, obsessed as it is with the AFL, does not seem to be worried and has been totally supine about the whole business. 

The state government, which sank a considerable amount of money into the project has managed to force some changes for the better, but overall the whole thing is a dog’s breakfast. 

There appears to have been no Memorandum of Understanding, or if there was it has disappeared; it seems the Town of East Fremantle has run rings around the board of the footy club and has obviously figured that gyms are going to be a cash cow for them – hence the proliferation of them at the expense of proper club facilities. 

They have been intransigent in their demands that as this is a “community hub” the football club shall not be the dominant feature at the oval. 

As a member of this fine, traditional football club, to say I and most other members are disappointed with the outcome does not even cover it: We feel we have been completely dudded.