DREW Petrie could be sidelined until mid-season in another long-term blow to West Coast's injury-ravaged ruck stocks.

The veteran recruit will consult a surgeon on Tuesday after breaking his hand in the opening minutes of his Eagles debut against former side North Melbourne.

"It's not great," coach Adam Simpson told Channel Seven.

"I haven't quite got the full results back yet, but at the early stages (it looks like he'll be out for) six-to-10 weeks." 

West Coast pulled Jonathan Giles from East Perth's clash on Sunday afternoon following Petrie's injury, and Simpson confirmed the journeyman would partner Nathan Vardy in the ruck against St Kilda in round two. 

The Eagles are now down to two fit ruckmen, with Nic Naitanui (ACL) out for most, if not all, of the season and Scott Lycett about two months away from returning from a dislocated shoulder. 

Petrie bravely played on with his left hand bandaged against the Roos, using his right hand wherever possible in the ruck.

The 34-year-old capped off an eventful game when he was mobbed by his new teammates after booting an inspirational late goal.

"I didn't want to have us with only 21 players to use for the remainder of the game," Petrie told Channel Nine. 

"I was probably 21-and-a-half players out there, I didn't do a great deal for the side yesterday. 

"But they're a great bunch of players the West Coast boys and I love them already, so I wanted to get out there and experience the first game with them."