Demons coach Dean Bailey made the announcement alongside Tapscott at a press conference on Thursday morning.
Tapscott, 19, was drafted with pick 18 at the 2009 NAB AFL Draft from North Adelaide.
"We spoke to Luke on Tuesday and as a match committee we decided early in the week to let Luke know and today is the formality of it," Bailey said.
"On Sunday, Luke gets to play his first game in round one against the Swans on the MCG."
Tapscott missed most of last season with a hip problem before playing a handful of games for VFL side Casey late in the season.
He admits feeling a tad envious at seeing fellow draftees Tom Scully, Jack Trengove and Jordan Gysberts make their debuts while he watched on.
"It was pretty frustrating. When I did my hip in the pre-season last year it was a big setback for me," Tapscott said.
"Watching everyone else have a run around, there was obviously a bit of jealousy but it was great to watch them all develop and I got to watch a different side of the club."
The former South Australian signed for three years rather than the mandatory two-year minimum after he was drafted and says his close friend Trengove has been a help as he prepares for his debut.
"I had a bit of a chat to him last night about what it's like to play your first game. I really can't wait," he said.
Trengove should be right to play against the Swans after an ankle injury hampered part of his pre-season, but Scully will be at least a month away as he battles a knee injury.
Bailey said it was an unfortunate fact that most teams don't go into round one with a fully fit squad to pick from.
"Injuries are going to occur. Unfortunately you don't want them to occur," Bailey said.
"No club wants an injury list at all but they're part of the game so it's more about the 22 players who are going to play on Sunday rather than those who aren't."
Luke Tapscott is a $97,600 forward in the Toyota AFL Dream Team competition
