West Coast plans to lodge papers with the AFL placing new recruit Tom Barrass on the long-term injury list.

Barrass had sustained a tear to his hip joint which was not responding to treatment or conservative management, and he last week underwent an arthoscopy to address the issue.

It is expected that Barrass will be sidelined for 12 weeks, ruling him out of any level of training until mid-April.

A strong key defender, Barrass was selected by the club in last year’s draft with pick no.43 from WAFL club Claremont.

His placement on the long-term injury list represents a possible opportunity for one of the club's rookies to be promoted.