The West Coast Eagles will open the AFL season at the new Perth Stadium in 2018.

Confirmation of the news is expected to come from the AFL tomorrow morning, but the Eagles are scheduled to play Sydney in a twilight game on the Sunday, closing out the opening round.

The club is delighted and excited to be given the opportunity to play against the Swans in what will be the start of a new era at the state-of-the-art venue.

“We’re really excited that the AFL is giving us the opportunity to showcase the first game at the new stadium,” West Coast Eagles CEO Trevor Nisbett said tonight.

“It is a great outcome and will give our members who have supported us over the last 31 years the opportunity to usher in a new era at the best stadium in the southern hemisphere.

“We are thrilled to be playing Sydney, one of our great rivals, in what should be a wonderful launch for football at the new stadium.

“It has obviously been a big week in football, this decision coming just four days after the historic user agreement was signed last Sunday.”