Baskerville excited for finals return at Shark ParkThursday, August 28, 2025 - 8:40 AM - by Jordan McArdle

East Fremantle skipper Kyle Baskerville highlighted the importance of having a finals fixture at The Good Grocer Park for the first time since the venue was redeveloped.

The venue affectionately known as ‘Shark Park’ was out of action when East Fremantle won their last premiership in 2023 when they were forced to play the bulk of their home games that season at the WACA Ground and train at various venues around the CBD.

Last season, the Sharks had to play a ‘home’ elimination final at Revo Fitness Stadium in Claremont due to their ground’s facelift not being finished.

Speaking to the media at Tuesday’s WAFL finals launch at Optus Stadium, Baskerville said the club was excited to play in front of their home supporters in Sunday’s cut-throat Elimination Final against Perth.

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“It’s nice to coming into elimination final and not have to play that away,” Baskerville said.

“I think last year we finished fourth, and we had to play that at Claremont’s home ground.

“So to get back to our facility and play it there in front of our home fans is really important to us.”

Coach Bill Monaghan echoed Baskerville’s thoughts and admitted it had been “a struggle at times” in the years without a home ground.

“It seems the last three or four years have been been a struggle at times, and been a while since we’ve played a final at East Fremantle Oval,” Monaghan said.

Sunday’s clash is shaping up to be a battle of two of the Sullivan Logistics WAFL competition’s most talented midfields.

The Sharks are headlined by prolific ball winner Milan Murdock who continues to put his name in lights for higher honours, while former Brisbane Lion Tom Joyce is in red-hot form.

“Milan’s an absolute warrior,” Monaghan said.

“He’s just naturally competitive and combative.

“Clubs try to get under his skin and tag him, and I think everyone’s taggable to a degree, but the more competitive and the more people try to knock him over, the harder he works.”

Perth have dynamic former Geelong duo Brandan Parfitt and Charlie Constable at their disposal, coming off a whopping 76 possessions between them in last week’s win over Subiaco.

Leader Corey Byrne is another player to watch in the Demons’ engine room.

Monaghan floated a potential tagging role for veteran utility Jarrad Jansen on Constable.

The match is East Fremantle stalwart Cameron Eardley's 200th for the club in a special milestone.