Nick Malceski Biography

Nick Malceski is returns to the club where he finished his AFL career in the latest move by new Suns coach Damien Hardwick.

The 39-year-old has been signed as a development coach at Heritage Bank Stadium, replacing Jackson Kornberg who held that position across the past two seasons.

A persistent knee injury forces Nick Malceski to retire despite having another year to run on his contract with the Suns.

The 32-year-old is set to move into an assistant coaching role with the Suns academy.

"I was hoping to play out my contract with the Suns in 2017, but as many of you would know, I've had ongoing knee issues for a while now and to be honest, I couldn't go on," Malceski said.

"When reflecting on my year and the direction of the footy club it became clear to me that the time was right to call it a day.

"My thinking post-footy was always to go into coaching, specifically development, and when the opportunity came up to get the next chapter of my career started with the Suns, I knew the time was right."

Nick Malceski says he is trying to forget 2015 after failing to perform in his first year with the Suns.

"I had a disappointing year last year, I'll be the first one to admit that, and I'm looking to make amends this year," Malceski said.

"I feel a lot more comfortable in the group because I've been there for a year.

"I'm starting fresh again this year and wiping last year away. I haven't thought about last year."

Nick Malceski will miss two weeks with knee soreness.

Former Swan and new Gold Coast vice-captain Nick Malceski says he has had to rectify some issues at his new club.

"I came here and saw some stuff that I didn't think was acceptable," Malceski said.

"If I see something (wrong), I'll say it. It's probably grown my leadership.

"They are a group that want to learn and improve and get better. It was just small things that I saw that could get better around here and the boys have grasped it and are improving."

Sydney select Nicholas Newman with pick No.35 in the 2014 NAB AFL Rookie Draft.

"We were really surprised that Nicholas was still there at pick 35," Sydney football manager Tom Harley said.

"Our recruiting staff has kept an eye on him for a while and he is a beautiful kick and plays off half-back.

"He was targeted from our end with the hole that Nick Malceski obviously vacated going to the Gold Coast.

"He won the Fothergill-Round Medal, which is the Rising Star equivalent in the VFL."

Gold Coast full-back Steven May says new Suns recruit Nick Malceski has been outstanding as a leader at the club.

"He's really brought some of his Sydney Swans culture, the high standards with skills and communication, which he's big on," May said.

"He's only been here for four sessions, so going forward we can only get better as a side through his leadership.

"Also his skills, his lethal left foot out of the backline, I'm looking forward to playing alongside that."

Nick Malceski is confident of playing finals in 2015 and ultimately winning a premiership with his new Gold Coast teammates.

"The club is looking to make finals next year and I believe in the list we've got and the talent we've got that we can make finals next year and really push in the next couple of years for a premiership," Malceski said about the Suns.

Gold Coast pulls off a recruiting coup, luring Sydney Swans defender Nick Malceski as an unrestricted free agent.

Malceski 30, has signed a three-year deal with the Suns after completing the best season of his career, playing all of the Swans' 25 games and earning his first All Australian selection.

"I am sad to have to leave Sydney," Malceski said.

"It has been great to me and I owe the club so much. I came to the club as an 18-year-old and have become the person I am today because of this place and its people and culture.

"But this was too good an opportunity to miss both for my family and me personally. At Sydney I was surrounded by a depth of great leaders and at the Suns it is all new and young. I am looking forward to helping them build a sustainable and successful team."

The Swans will receive a second-round compensation pick for the loss of unrestricted free agent Nick Malceski to Gold Coast.

Sydney say they are disappointed with Malceski's decision but understand his reasons for leaving.

"We put a really good offer to Nick but unfortunately he's been offered a deal too good to refuse," Sydney football manager Dean Moore said.

"While obviously disappointed to lose someone of Nick's calibre, who arguably had his best season this year finishing with All Australian selection, we understand his reasons for accepting the Suns' offer.

"We thank Nick for his contribution to the club and he will always be remembered for his outstanding 2012 Grand Final and the role he played at the club over the past 12 seasons."

Despite attracting interest from at least four clubs, Nick Malceski is still a chance to stay with the Sydney Swans according to his manager Ben Niall.

"They're certainly interested in his services and we're talking to a number of clubs, including Sydney, but they're certainly in the mix," Niall said.

"He doesn't want to leave, he's not disgruntled, it's a great football club and he's very settled in Sydney.

"We are hopeful the Sydney Swans are able to get close enough to what his alternatives are that he's able to stay."

Nick Malceski is expected to take his place in the Sydney Swans' line-up for Friday night's preliminary final against North Melbourne at ANZ Stadium.

Malceski strained his hamstring in the first quarter of the Swans' qualifying final victory over Fremantle less than two weeks ago.

But coach John Longmire said on Thursday the running defender, who was named All Australian for the first time this week, had ticked all the boxes in his bid to take on the Kangaroos.

"He ran really hard on Monday and he did all the training yesterday and he's pulled up well today, so at this stage we'd expect to name him," Longmire told reporters.

"He feels good and we'd expect him to play."

Josh Kennedy says he is unsure if Nick Malceski will leave the Swans at the end of the season.

"I think he's put it off until the end of the year because he doesn't want to be distracted by it and I think that's completely fair enough," Kennedy said.

"We've got two or three weeks now where everyone needs to lock down and all be on the same page at the moment.

"He's doing that and whatever happens after that, who knows?"

Nick Malceski is cleared of major hamstring damage and expected to play in Sydney's preliminary final.

"He's good, his hamstring's fine, he's got a bit of minor swelling there and nothing major at all," Sydney coach John Longmire said.

"He feels really good and at this stage he's looking to run next Monday, train next Wednesday and be available to play next week.

"It's worked out really well to have the weekend off and him not play this week and prepare as best he can to be available for selection next week."

Star Swan Nick Malceski is subbed out of Sydney's qualifying final at quarter-time with a hamstring injury.

"He's felt it before a bit and we thought he'd be right and keep him going, but he was a bit sore still so we subbed him out," Sydney coach John Longmire said.

"We'll see how he goes during the week. You don't know whether it's just tight or … you just don't know.

"I'm sure a few people will write what they want about it, but until you get a scan, we don't know."

Nick Malceski has put contract talks on hold until the end of the season, but his manager insists he is not disgruntled at the Swans.

"It's a massive decision. It's the last really big decision Nick's going to make in his career and we want to use the time we have to look at all the options and make the best decision we can for him and his family," Malceski's manager Ben Niall said.

"He's not disgruntled, he just wants to take his time, look at everything that's available to him and make a considered decision."

Hawthorn will nervously await a Match Review Panel finding on the rough conduct charge leveled at superstar Lance Franklin ahead of the Hawks' first qualifying final against Sydney at the MCG on Friday night.

Franklin was reported after delivering a late, high bump on Swans defender Nick Malceski during their final-round match at ANZ Stadium.

Lance Franklin is offered a one-match ban by the Match Review Panel for his bump on Nick Malceski.

Franklin will miss the Hawks' qualifying final against Sydney if he accepts the ban.

Nick Malceski has turned down the opportunity to test free agency in favour of signing a new one-year deal with the Swans.

Nick Malceski will remember his last kick in 2012 as the finest of his career after kicking a goal to seal the Grand Final for the Swans.

"If you look at the replay I think I fumbled it a fair bit … it wasn't quite in my hands and I kicked it out of mid-air," Malceski said of his left-foot snap with 42 seconds remaining," he said.

"It went high and I was hoping it was going to make the distance. Once it did I knew there wasn't much time to go and we were up by 10 points so I just went nuts.

"I don't know what I was doing down in the forward 50 - there was a bit of traffic around. John Blakey, my defensive coach, tells me not to go in the forward 50, but I'm sure he's happy that I went in there today."

Nick Malceski has endured knee injuries throughout his AFL career but has always maintained a positive outlook and will be part of Sydney's 2012 Grand Final side.

"It was a long time ago 2006 and I was only young and thought it would happen every year," Malceski said during the Grand Final Parade.

"But obviously it doesn't and it's good to be part of it this year. I've done my knee twice since the last one. Finally getting here again, we've got a great opportunity, and hopefully we can capitalise."

Swan defender Nick Malceski can't wait to erase the 2011 season from his mind - starting with Friday's intra-club match.

"It was a year I wouldn't mind putting past me," Malceski said.

"I'm just concentrating on this year and making sure I can do everything to keep my body right and play good footy.

"I just couldn't get into the form I wanted to get into and it was more frustrating than anything.

"At the end of the year I sat down and knew what I needed to work on and this year I'm trying to put it into place."

After three knee reconstructions, Swan Nick Malceski says he never would have reached his coming 100-game milestone if not for the revolutionary LARS procedure.

"I reckon [my career would be over]. I did my knee in my second year here and missed a whole year of footy and then debuted in 2005 and played five games," Malceski said.

"I've done (the two knee injuries since) at the start of the season, so I would've missed two full years and trying to get back after that would've been pretty hard and taken its toll.

Sydney Swans defender Nick Malceski has returned to training eight weeks after undergoing LARS surgery on his injured knee.

"He is moving really well, he's reasonably fit and we just move forward now and get a few training weeks into him," Swans physiotherapist Matt Cameron said.

Swans defender Nick Malceski has walked out of hospital to begin another comeback from a LARS knee reconstruction.

"My knee is feeling good, I'm walking around and doing exercises on it. It's feeling a lot stronger than what it was last time. Not having a break between when I did it and the operation has helped out a lot," he said.

"Because I've done it before I'm staying confident. It's a good challenge for me, I'm 26 and I've had three serious knee injuries, so this next three months is a huge challenge."

Port Adelaide midfielder David Rodan has expressed concern over the viability of the LARS procedure after Nick Malceski re-injured his right knee.

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't have any concerns, but these things you can't really help. It doesn't matter whether you have the traditional [reconstruction] or the LARS, there's no guarantee on either one of them," Rodan said.

"It's very unfortunate and I've expressed my sorrows to Nick. I gave him a phone call to see if everything was fine. Obviously he's a little bit upset at the moment...but I've got no doubt he'll be back bigger and stronger than ever just like he was after the first one."

Sydney Swans defender Nick Malceski will undergo LARS surgery again after injuring his right knee at training.

"The option was available to us with this revision reconstruction, to use the conventional method or LARS surgery, and Nick was very keen to pursue the LARS surgery. The recovery time of LARS surgery is exceptional, at approximately 12 weeks," Sydney club doctor Nathan Gibbs said.

Sydney Swans defender Nick Malceski says his return to form should encourage other ACL victims to give the radical LARS (ligament augmentation and reconstruction system) procedure a go.

"I guess it has given them confidence, knowing that it's worked for me. I'd recommend it to anyone and anyone who wants advice, I'm happy to give it," Malceski said.

"You don't miss 12 months of footy and especially if you're out of contract, you're back in three months and it gives you a good opportunity to really set yourself for the rest of the year, especially if you do it early."

St Kilda forward Justin Koschitzke has been offered three weeks for engaging in rough conduct against Swan Nick Malceski.

Disappointed with his efforts in 2009, Sydney Swans defender Nick Malceski says he wants to revisit his form of 2007.

"After doing my knee and playing 12 games in 2008, I thought my form was just going to come to me. That is where I fell in a trap," Malceski said.

"I thought I was doing everything right but now I realise I needed to work a lot harder than what I did.

"At the end of the 2009 season I sat down and reviewed every year that I've been here, what I achieved and what I wanted to get out of each year. Last year was a nothing year for me and it was a waste."

Tadgh Kennelly says he is glad to be back at the Swans and is looking forward to working in tandem with Rhyce Shaw and Nick Malceski.

"Obviously it will be great to have Rhyce Shaw and Nick Malceski up and going ... it gives one of us the opportunity to go into the midfield or half forward," he said.

"I'm sure there will be a rotation policy that will happen and it's something that the club was looking forward to last year before I made the decision to leave. Obviously we can look forward to doing it now in 2010."

Kennelly also believes he'll be a better player following his time in Ireland.

"I owe the Swans a lot and feel I'll be a much better player because I don't have that drawcard of going back to Ireland any more," Kennelly said.

"I feel that weight is off my shoulders. I feel like I can now express myself a lot more."

Sydney Swans defender Nick Malceski remains confident he can return to the sort of form he showed before his knee injury.

"I've been looking at many different things but I've been unable to pinpoint anything as to why my form hasn't returned," Malceski said.

"I have gone back to what I was doing in 2007 and that hasn't worked, but I feel I took a step forward in the game against North Melbourne in my one-on-one work and I found more of the footy, which I have struggled with at senior level.

"It is great that the coaching staff have faith in me, and hopefully I can turn it around this week."

Nick Malceski is being considered for a recall to the Swans' side for Sunday's clash against Port Adelaide at the SCG.

"He had a good game on the weekend, I think he kicked four goals and had 30 something possessions. He certainly has to come into consideration," Sydney coach Paul Roos said.

"He's done everything we have asked him to do."

Nick Malceski has become the first experienced Swans star to suffer coach Paul Roos' axe, as Sydney tries to bring its stop-start season to life.

"We need to get Mal into a bit of form," Roos said.

"He's been training really well, it just hasn't been transferring over into his games.

"I spoke to him on Tuesday and we were both scratching our heads because he hasn't been playing that bad.

"But I think he's looking forward to getting out there on the weekend and running more with the ball."

Nick Malceski made a welcome return to form as the Swans upset premiers Hawthorn on Saturday night.

Joshua Hunt is planning to speak to Sydney's Nick Malceski about the radical knee surgery that saved his season last year.

The start of the season proper may be a month away, but Nick Malceski has already formed a bond with recruit Rhyce Shaw.

Nick Malceski is ready to play his part in filling the gap left by Tadhg Kennelly's exit.

Nick Malceski is scheduled to make a return to football just 11 weeks after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in the Swans opening pre-season game in February.

Rather than opting for a traditional knee reconstruction, Malceski knee was rebuilt using industrial-strength synthetic fibre using a groundbreaking procedure by French surgeon J.P. Laboureau.

"You could only do it with certain individuals and Nick has been switched on to the concept from day one," club doctor Nathan Gibbs said.

"If you don't believe in the treatment, and don't believe it will work then it isn't for you but that attitude is instinctive in him."

"He is fully fit, he has also got mental confidence," Swans physio Matt Cameron said.

"If he looked tentative, we might hold him back, but he doesn't at all."

Nick Malceski, who underwent a alternative surgery to mend a ruptered arterior cruciate ligament only weeks ago, returns to training with his Swans teammates.

Victims of the injury are typically still in a brace at this stage of recovery after a knee reconstruction.

Malceski is expected to make his way back into the side for an AFL game in round 9.

Nick Malceski undergoes a revolutionary procedure to repair his ruptured anterior cruciate ligament which could see the midfielder return to football within three months.

The procedure, known as ligament augmentation and reconstruction system (LARS), replaces the torn natural ligament with one made of industrial-strength polyester fibres.

"With the LARS procedure, it's an inert ligament . . . you screw it in and, technically, it's as strong as it will be from day one," Sydney club doctor Nathan Gibbs said.

"Not having to take tendons means you don't have the trauma of getting over that side of things, so the rehabilitation is quicker for that reason alone."

The procedure, however, is later reported to have been banned in France and carries several risks.

Former Crow best-and-fairest winner, Matthew Liptak, who now works as a doctor specialising in knee reconstructions warned of the dangers of using a synthetic graft.

"During the late 1980s there was a significant push for this graft, and then everyone found the synthetic grafts had lots of inflammation and so most of the world has steered away from them completely," Liptak said.

Nick Malceski ruptures his anterior cruciate ligament during the Swans' two-point loss to Hawthorn in the pre-season cup.

Malceski sustained the injury after attempting to evade a tackle by Hawk Cyril Rioli in the third quarter and was helped from the ground by trainers.

Malceski is expected to miss the entire 2008 season as a result of this.

"Obviously it's disappointing for him and it's emotional," Swans coach Paul Roos said.

"You spend the whole pre-season training and you do it, but, yeah, it looks like he'll be out for a little while."