North Melbourne vice-captain Drew Petrie believes the foot injuries which have sidelined him virtually all season could, ironically, extend his AFL career.

Petrie underwent surgery on Wednesday after again breaking his right foot, this time against Sydney in the game at the SCG on Sunday.

It is the final blow after two operations earlier in the season.

Petrie first broke a bone in his left foot and had a screw inserted, sidelining him for the first nine weeks of 2010.

He returned in round 10 against Fremantle, only to break the same bone in his right foot, ruling him out until the clash against the Swans.

Petrie admitted to a brief feeling of depression when the realisation he would not be playing again this year sunk in.

"I'm used to it now so I'm kind of immune to all the negative thoughts of what's ahead of me (but) last night I probably had the first dark moment, realising that my season is over," Petrie said.

The 27-year-old now feels there is an upside for his long-term career.

"I reckon it will help lengthen it, now that my body's had 12 months off it will be fresh," he said.

"It's enabled other areas of my body to heal and I'm sure I've got three or four more good years ahead of me.

"I was a little bit worried after the game on Sunday that it might be someething that was going to trouble me for the rest of the year.

"But I'll go and have a screw put in today - have the rod that was already in there taken out and a screw put in which will bind the muscles together a lot better.

"Having until April next year before I have to play again will give it ample time to heal and it shouldn't give me any troubles from here on."

There was some criticism that Petrie was left on the field against the Swans after hurting his foot, but he said no further damage could have been done.

"I was fine to continue playing and in the third quarter I had a fair run a few times at the footy and jumped into a few packs and felt great," he said.

"It was only in the third quarter when the pain was bad and I wasn't able to run too much and that's when (coach) Brad (Scott) noticed and decided to take me off."

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