IT was a case of déjà vu for Sydney Swans’ defender Nick Malceski as he looked on during the Swans’ training session at Lakeside Oval on Thursday.

Leaning on crutches after he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament last Sunday in the Swans’ NAB Cup Opener against the Hawks, the 23-year-old now faces his second knee reconstruction - he underwent the procedure on his other knee in 2002.

That previous experience of the season-culling injury meant that he was in no doubt as to how bad the news would be when he went to ground in Launceston. "I knew straight away because I’ve done one before and knew the feeling," Malceski said.

The 2007 best and fairest runner-up couldn’t bear to sit on the sidelines after the injury occurred. "I was out on the ground icing my knee and I thought it was pretty pointless because I knew then it was gone. I was getting a bit emotional out on the ground so I just went inside."

In the confines of the rooms, the reality of sitting out the season - with only the possibility of a return as late as August or September - really sank in.

"I sort of broke out a little bit," he admitted. "It’s crushing. I think I’ve dealt with it alright so far but it’s still tough to deal with."

Most disappointing for Malceski is missing out on being part of what would have been an exciting trio of attacking defenders in season 2008, as teammate Tadhg Kennelly returns from his own knee troubles to join new recruit and former Adelaide Crow Martin Mattner.

"I was speaking to Tadhg on Monday and he was saying how devastated he was, how much he was looking forward to playing (with us)," Malceski said. "Watching me and Marty run out of defence in the first two quarters (against the Hawks), and how excited he was … it would be hard to stop the three of us running out of the goalsquare."

Malceski is trying not to dwell on the "what ifs", instead take a philosophical approach to his setback.

"There are heaps of things that run through your head every time you do an injury," he said. "I think everything happens for a reason. Why this happened I don’t know yet, but I’m hoping later down the track I’ll know why.”