Fremantle AFLW coach Trent Cooper has conceded the Dockers will spend a considerable amount of time on the road next season because of border complications.

The Dockers and West Coast are both likely to be forced to play interstate for a number of weeks because of the WA Government’s refusal to open the state borders until vaccination rates reach 90 per cent.

The timeline for this is likely to be in late January to early February, leaving teams in Victoria and NSW unable to enter WA without quarantine and vice-versa when the season begins on January 6.

Cooper said the AFL was set to release fixtures in the next 12 days which would give them an idea of their travel plans, which he hoped came after a few early-season home games.

“That’s the way it’s looking, that we will be away on an extended road trip at some stage,” Cooper told SportFM.

“The AFL has been really good, they’ve been really open in making sure that we’re not away for too long… hopefully it looks like there’ll be some teams that can get in, in the really early part of the year.

“And then we likely maybe have to go away for a little time after that before the borders open.

“Last year it was really difficult doing that on three days’ notice, with all the girls having full-time jobs, but this year we’re expecting a fixture release within the next 12 days and that’ll give everyone a bit of time to prepare.

“There are still a few states that can get in and out… obviously Victoria at the moment, that looks very unlikely until that later date, so we’re expecting we maybe we’ll have to head across there for a period until the borders do open.

“We’re still hopeful of getting one or two home games in before we do head away.”

Cooper would not reveal who was in consideration to be the Dockers’ next captain after Kara Antonio stepped down earlier this week after being in the role for the entire five seasons.

“I don’t want to name names because we’re actually running a thorough process,” Cooper said.

“The players will have a huge say in it.

“I can rule out one if that helps. She’s been highly touted as a likely successor in Ebony Antonio, but if she threw her hat in the ring then Kara would come straight back to make sure that wouldn’t happen. She’s not too keen on the wife taking over.”