Promising North Melbourne defender Ed Vickers-Willis has been ruled out for the rest of the season, after suffering a PCL injury in round seven.

Vickers-Willis was initially scheduled to make his return late in the season, but he will need to have surgery to repair his PCL, with the recovery time long enough to see his 2018 season cut short.

"It's devastating news for Ed and the second time he's had an AFL season end prematurely, in as many years," North Melbourne's GM of football Cameron Joyce told nmfc.com.au.

"He'll have an operation later this week and we'll do everything we can as a club, to get around him and support him.

"Despite the news, he's in good spirits and knowing how he went about his rehab last time around, we're supremely confident that he'll bounce back from this latest setback."

The 22-year-old played seven games in 2017 before a PCL injury ended his season, and the same goes for 2018, playing the opening seven games before sliding into a post at the SCG and received another PCL injury.

"Despite his relative inexperience, we were delighted with the way Ed was playing alongside the likes of Robbie Tarrant, Scott Thompson, Majak Daw, Marley Williams and Jamie Macmillan down back," Joyce said.

"He was missed on Sunday against Richmond and will certainly be missed throughout the rest of the year."

Vickers-Willis has played 14 career games, and is averaging 12.9 disposals, 2.6 marks and 3.2 tackles per game since joining the club.