Fremantle's hard-fought win over Gold Coast means Norwood Oval remains extra special to James Aish.

The Friday twilight match as part of Gather Round was a homecoming for Aish, whose family is revered at the inner-suburban Adelaide venue.

Also known as The Parade, the ground is the home of the Norwood Football Club, the defending SANFL premiers.

This was the first time the ground has hosted an AFL match.

Aish was a two-time premiership player for Norwood, known as the Redlegs, before he went to the AFL.

"I don't think he's ever lost here - the streak continues, apparently," Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir said.

"He's put in a request for a few more home games, he said. I'm not sure he'll get that across the line."

Aish's grandfather Peter captained the Redlegs and his father Andrew is a Norwood premiership player.

His uncle, Michael, won the Magarey Medal and is one of the best players in SA football history.

Aish had 16 disposals on the wing in Fremantle's win, which looked unlikely when they trailed by 23 points at half-time.

Longmuir thought the ground's tight dimensions might have been a reason for their slow start.

"Maybe it spooked us a little bit early, not having the extra width," Longmuir said.

"Once we settled into it, we started finding the gaps a bit more.

"There's still plenty of room out there, as Gold Coast found in the first half - they were able to chip the ball around.

"Once we adjusted, we played some pretty good footy on it."

Norwood was a success, with the ground at capacity with more than 9000 fans and the two teams putting on a pulsating clash.

"That was a cracking game of pressure footy," said Suns coach Stuart Dew.

The AFL put plenty of work into the ground and old timers noted that the playing surface, often a muddy heap in the depths of winter, has never looked so good.