West Coast’s fixture up until round 12 has been locked in, with the Eagles set to host Essendon under lights at Optus Stadium on a Saturday night in round 11 before travelling to the MCG to take on Carlton.  

The AFL has confirmed the next block of fixtures, and placed West Coast’s clash with the Bombers in primetime on Saturday, May 29 at 5.40pm local time.

It will be the fourth battle between the clubs at Optus from the past five encounters, with the only outlier a 15-point victory for the Eagles at the Gabba in last year’s COVID-impacted season.

West Coast has won two of those three games at Optus, including the 2019 elimination final by 55 points.

After hosting Essendon, the Eagles will enjoy an eight-day break before flying east to face Carlton at the home of football on Sunday, June 6.

Bouncedown for that contest will be 3.20pm local time, or 1.20pm AWST.

The Eagles and Blues last faced off at the MCG in 2018, when Adam Simpson’s men emerged with a gritty 10-point triumph as part of the club’s current six-game winning streak against the Blues.

In 2021, the AFL will celebrate the Sir Doug Nicholls Round across both weeks of matches in rounds 11 and 12, with all 18 clubs wearing specially designed guernseys to commemorate the occasion.