SWANS defender Nick Malceski is not completely ruling out a return to action this year after he ruptured his ACL in
It’s the second time in his career that the 23-year-old has suffered the injury, having also had knee reconstructive surgery in 2002.
He’ll have to wait until swelling goes down before Swans’ doctor Nathan Gibbs can assess whether he will go under the knife next week or the week after.
“You’ve got to stay positive when you’re down, that’s what got me through last time,” Malceski says.
“It’s usually a nine month job so hopefully I can play some footy this year… I’ll do everything I can to get back for finals, if we get there and play then.
“Whether or not I can get into the team by then is another story.”
Malceski will now turn his attention to off-field duties and may even spend some time in the coaches’ box during the season.
“I’ve told them that whatever I can do on game day I will, so hopefully they’ll have a role for me… I already mentor a young kid, Nick Smith, who lives with me as well so I guess I’ll really nail down on him and make sure he has a good year this year.”
The 2007 best and fairest runner up may spend some time abroad after his surgery.
“I’ll see how I go after the operation but maybe after a few weeks I might get away and try and clear my head a little bit.”
