No player was more impressive during the pre-season than Nick Malceksi, who was running personal bests and setting the training track alight.

His promising build-up to the 2011 season was tragically cut short when he suffered a serious knee injury - the third in his career - during an innocuous training incident.

Remarkably, for the second time, Malceski had LARS surgery and returned to the field in just 10 weeks.

Malceski talks to sydneyswans.com.au about his frustrating season. 

How do you sum up your 2011 season?

I’m pretty shattered. I started off really well in the pre-season but then obviously did my knee which was devastating, and then I just couldn’t get back to the form I wanted to. Not playing in the finals was pretty heartbreaking. Unlike last time I came back from my knee injury, this time it was all about my body. I had a bad groin during the year from overload, because I pretty much did two pre-seasons. I was wrapped to get back into the team within 10 weeks but looking back, I probably shouldn’t have gone so hard. That probably cost me a little bit, but it’s hard to know at the time.

How did you rate the team’s performance?

I thought the team’s effort was good. It was a good improvement on last year given we had a new game style to get used to. The last month of footy was fantastic from the boys, bar the Hawthorn game I guess.

What does the pre-season hold for you?

I just need to get my body right now and maybe I shouldn’t go so hard so early. I did a lot of extra stuff last year in the pre-season, but I’ve been told to settle that down a little this year. I just want to have a good pre-season, get my confidence back and go from there. I’m confident I can come back after the break and get back to my best.

Who impressed you this year?

Alex Johnson, I mentor him and he did a fantastic job. He is a first-year kid who played nearly every game. Luke Parker is a little nugget, a real hard nut and he was great. Rhyce Shaw, he is 30, but he had an outstanding year. He was sore nearly every week, but he still got out there and did really well.

What are you up to during the break?

Getting married to my fiancée, Laura.