Nick Malceski
Encyclopedia
Nick Malceski is an Australian rules football
er playing for the Sydney Swans
in the Australian Football League
. Malceski is a Macedonian Australian
, being of ethnic Macedonian heritage.
in the 2002 AFL Draft
. He was drafted in Sydney's 5th and last round selection at 64th overall.
In his first year at the club, the talented midfielder played in the Wizard Home Loans Cup and then followed up with a full season for the Swans Reserves, where he impressed coaching staff with his magnificent disposal skills on both sides of his body and excellent decision-making abilities in both attack and defence. After a successful first season with the Swans
, Malceski and coaching staff had high hopes for him making his debut for the seniors in the 2004 premiership season. Unfortunately, Malceski ruptured his left anterior cruciate ligament
during a trial game, requiring him to have a knee reconstruction, thus ruining any hopes of him making a seniors debut in 2004.
In 2005, Malceski surprised everyone by fully recovering from his knee injury both physically and mentally, and was rewarded with a seniors debut. He scored his first career goal with his first kick. Malceski went on to play another four matches for the seniors in the 2005 premiership season.
In 2006, Nick got the call up to play for the seniors in round 3, along with a new guernsey, No. 9. He played well and held his spot in the team, scoring five goals and averaged 14 possessions a game. However, Malceski pulled up with a hamstring
injury during the first quarter of the Swans
' round 9 clash against Hawthorn
at the MCG
. Scans later revealed he would miss the next 3 or 4 weeks.
In the Round 4, 2006 match against Melbourne
he had the opportunity to level the scores in the dying moments but missed from 25 metres out and the Demons hung on. This was an inapt way to cap off his game which was considered to have shown a lot of promise – with several long kicks and attacking flair shown. The match marked his arrival as a promising young player.
Malceski's form earned him selection in the 2006 AFL Grand Final
where he garnered 10 possessions and kicked an important goal, however his side ultimately lost in his first Grand Final appearance.
In 2007, Malceski continued to impress with exquisite disposal skills. Malceski cemented his place in the Sydney Swans team with several stand-out performances early in the season. His speed and accuracy off half-back has made him an important cog in the Sydney Swans team. In Round 5, 2007 against the Melbourne Demons, Malceski was awarded best on ground with 28 disposals and 1 goal. A great season performance in 2007 resulted Malceski to be runner-up in the clubs prestigious Skilton Medal
, only second to Sydney midfielder Brett Kirk
.
After his break-out year in 2007, Malceski and Swans coaching staff had high hopes for an even more successful 2008. However, their hopes were delivered a cruel blow when Malceski suffered what appeared to be a serious knee injury to his right knee
after he twisted it when changing direction during the 3rd quarter of the Swans Round 1, NAB Cup clash with Hawthorn in Tasmania. It was expected that the ACL injury would rule Malceski out for the remainder of the season, however, a synthetic ligament was installed into the knee and he returned to the side in a game against Essendon midway through the season.
In 2010, after 2 years of disappointing form and recovery from his serious knee injury, Malceski returned to his best form. Returning to the half back line, his run and precision kicking were great assets for the Swans as they pushed towards the finals. He capped of his wonderful year by placing 7th in the Bob Skilton Medal and being named in the initial 40 man All-Australian squad.
In the 2011 pre-season, Malceski re-tore his ACL ligament in his right knee. It was announced he would be having LARS surgery again and he would be out for 10-12 weeks.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er playing for the Sydney Swans
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
. Malceski is a Macedonian Australian
Macedonian Australian
Macedonian Australians are Australians of ethnic Macedonian descent. Many have their origins in the 1920s and 1930s although larger numbers came to Australia after World War II and the Greek Civil War...
, being of ethnic Macedonian heritage.
Overview
Malceski was recruited from the Eastern Rangers by the Sydney SwansSydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
in the 2002 AFL Draft
2002 AFL Draft
The 2002 AFL Draft consisted of a pre-season draft, a national draft, a trade period and the elevation of rookies. The AFL Draft is the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.In 2002...
. He was drafted in Sydney's 5th and last round selection at 64th overall.
In his first year at the club, the talented midfielder played in the Wizard Home Loans Cup and then followed up with a full season for the Swans Reserves, where he impressed coaching staff with his magnificent disposal skills on both sides of his body and excellent decision-making abilities in both attack and defence. After a successful first season with the Swans
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
, Malceski and coaching staff had high hopes for him making his debut for the seniors in the 2004 premiership season. Unfortunately, Malceski ruptured his left anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
during a trial game, requiring him to have a knee reconstruction, thus ruining any hopes of him making a seniors debut in 2004.
In 2005, Malceski surprised everyone by fully recovering from his knee injury both physically and mentally, and was rewarded with a seniors debut. He scored his first career goal with his first kick. Malceski went on to play another four matches for the seniors in the 2005 premiership season.
In 2006, Nick got the call up to play for the seniors in round 3, along with a new guernsey, No. 9. He played well and held his spot in the team, scoring five goals and averaged 14 possessions a game. However, Malceski pulled up with a hamstring
Hamstring
In human anatomy, the hamstring refers to any one of the three posterior thigh muscles, or to the tendons that make up the borders of the space behind the knee. In modern anatomical contexts, however, they usually refer to the posterior thigh muscles, or the tendons of the semitendinosus, the...
injury during the first quarter of the Swans
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
' round 9 clash against Hawthorn
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
at the MCG
McG
Joseph McGinty Nichol , better known as McG, is an American director and producer of film and television, as well as a former record producer....
. Scans later revealed he would miss the next 3 or 4 weeks.
In the Round 4, 2006 match against Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
he had the opportunity to level the scores in the dying moments but missed from 25 metres out and the Demons hung on. This was an inapt way to cap off his game which was considered to have shown a lot of promise – with several long kicks and attacking flair shown. The match marked his arrival as a promising young player.
Malceski's form earned him selection in the 2006 AFL Grand Final
2006 AFL Grand Final
The 2006 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Sydney Swans and West Coast Eagles, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 30 September 2006. It was the 110th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League/Australian Football League, staged to...
where he garnered 10 possessions and kicked an important goal, however his side ultimately lost in his first Grand Final appearance.
In 2007, Malceski continued to impress with exquisite disposal skills. Malceski cemented his place in the Sydney Swans team with several stand-out performances early in the season. His speed and accuracy off half-back has made him an important cog in the Sydney Swans team. In Round 5, 2007 against the Melbourne Demons, Malceski was awarded best on ground with 28 disposals and 1 goal. A great season performance in 2007 resulted Malceski to be runner-up in the clubs prestigious Skilton Medal
Bob Skilton Medal
The Bob Skilton Medal is awarded to the Sydney Swans player adjudged the Best and Fairest over the home and away season. It is named after Bob Skilton, who won the award a record nine times from 1958 to 1968.-List of winners:...
, only second to Sydney midfielder Brett Kirk
Brett Kirk
Brett Kirk is a former Australian rules football player of the Sydney Swans, and is known colloquially as "Kirky", "Captain Kirk", during the 2005 AFL Finals Series, "Captain Blood" and by teammates as "Hippy". Kirk is a hard working and onfield leader who has played in a premiership with the...
.
After his break-out year in 2007, Malceski and Swans coaching staff had high hopes for an even more successful 2008. However, their hopes were delivered a cruel blow when Malceski suffered what appeared to be a serious knee injury to his right knee
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
after he twisted it when changing direction during the 3rd quarter of the Swans Round 1, NAB Cup clash with Hawthorn in Tasmania. It was expected that the ACL injury would rule Malceski out for the remainder of the season, however, a synthetic ligament was installed into the knee and he returned to the side in a game against Essendon midway through the season.
In 2010, after 2 years of disappointing form and recovery from his serious knee injury, Malceski returned to his best form. Returning to the half back line, his run and precision kicking were great assets for the Swans as they pushed towards the finals. He capped of his wonderful year by placing 7th in the Bob Skilton Medal and being named in the initial 40 man All-Australian squad.
In the 2011 pre-season, Malceski re-tore his ACL ligament in his right knee. It was announced he would be having LARS surgery again and he would be out for 10-12 weeks.
Season Statistics
| Year | Team | Number | Games | Kicks | Handballs | Total Disposals | Marks | Tackles | Goals | Behinds | Goal Accuracy % | Brownlow Medal Votes | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Sydney | 40 | 5 | 21 | 11 | 32 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 50% | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2006 | Sydney | 9 | 17 | 148 | 57 | 205 | 68 | 53 | 9 | 7 | 56% | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2007 | Sydney | 9 | 23 | 333 | 148 | 481 | 150 | 60 | 14 | 5 | 74% | 9 | ||||||||||||
| 2008 | Sydney | 9 | 11 | 110 | 47 | 157 | 53 | 19 | 6 | 1 | 86% | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2009 | Sydney | 9 | 12 | 112 | 70 | 183 | 37 | 16 | 5 | 5 | 50% | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2010 | 9 | 24 | 339 | 204 | 543 | 128 | 60 | 7 | 9 | 44% | 4 | Totals | 92 | 1064 | 537 | 1601 | 446 | 211 | 42 | 28 | 60% | 13 |