FREMANTLE has won a bonus game at Perth Stadium in 2018 after missing out on the rights to host the first AFL clash at the new venue next season.
While West Coast will open the stadium for football fans, the Dockers will host four of their first six games at the state-of-the-art venue, including an 'away' game against Gold Coast in round three.
Fremantle will pay an agreed fee to the Suns, who are unable to host games at their Metricon Stadium home early in the season due to Commonwealth Games commitments at the venue.
The agreement gives the Dockers 13 matches at Perth Stadium, compared to the usual 12 they have hosted at Domain Stadium during the home and away season.
Both Fremantle and West Coast made bids to the AFL to host 'away' games at Perth Stadium next year to accommodate the Suns while a temporary athletics track was installed at Metricon Stadium.
Fremantle CEO Steve Rosich said the club made a strong bid to host the first AFL match at Perth Stadium, but the AFL had decided to continue rotating round one home matches between the Dockers and Eagles.
"What it does mean in the longer term is that on that basis we are due to play the round one season opener at Perth Stadium in 2019," Rosich said on the club's website.
"In the shorter term, our members and supporters can look forward to our first home game of the 2018 AFL season at Perth Stadium being a round two clash with Essendon on Saturday night in the first ever game under lights at Perth Stadium."
The Dockers will also host the first Western Derby at the venue, in round six.
West Coast CEO Trevor Nisbett said the Eagles were delighted to win the rights to host the first AFL game at Perth Stadium, against Sydney in a twilight clash that will close a blockbuster round one next season.
"We’re really excited that the AFL is giving us the opportunity to showcase the first game at the new stadium," Nisbett said on the club's website.
"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."
