It’s taken him nine seasons so Nick Malceski will relish the moment he runs out for his 100th game against Fremantle at the SCG this Sunday.
The dashing half back was drafted to the Swans at the end of 2002, but has endured three serious knee injuries on the way to notching up his milestone.
“I didn’t think I’d get there,’’ Malceski said today. “If you asked me that when I started at the Swans I would have said no.”
“I was a young kid and getting to 100 games is a big milestone in anyone’s category, so getting there is a great thing.
“Obviously doing three knees was another reason why I didn’t think I was going to get there.’’
While Malceski is excited by his milestone, it will only be a happy occasion if the team can win against the Dockers on Sunday.
It’s a huge game for both sides, with the Swans in sixth place and the Dockers seventh, separated by just two premiership points.
Malceski is urging Swans fans to get along and support the side. “It is near the end of the season and we’re playing Fremantle who are two points behind us on the ladder so it is a massive game, we will have to bring our a game to beat them over here,’’ he said.
“It has worked out pretty well, having my milestone game in front of a home crowd so hopefully there are a few here to watch us have a good win.
“This game is massive, if we can get the win it will put us six points in front of Freo and it is a massive game for us to win so we are going to have to put everything into it.’’
Malceski said if it wasn’t for the advent of LARS surgery, he doesn’t believe he would have made it to 100 games.
Malceski was the first Australian athlete to have the Ligament Augmentation Reconstruction Surgery (LARS),which means recovery time is only three months, compared to 12 months for traditional knee reconstruction surgery.
Malceski had a conventional knee reconstruction in 2004, and then had his first LARS in 2008, and then another again at the start of this season.
“If LARS wasn’t there I don’t think I would have got there (to the milestone) to be honest with you so I’m grateful for that,’’ he said.
“I did my two other knees at the start of the season so I would have missed two more full years and then trying to get back after that, I would have missed so much footy it would have been pretty hard.’’
Because he had LARS, Malceski only missed eight games in 2008 and eight this season.
Now Malceski is the poster boy for the surgery, and he’s got no problems with that, giving advice to any athlete who seeks his opinion.
“I’d say get it done - miss nine months of footy or three months. It is up to the player , but it isn’t a season ending injury any more.’’
There’s nothing like Sunday afternoon footy at the SCG - see the Sydney Swans take on fellow top eight contenders Fremantle, Sunday July 17, first bounce 1.10pm. Click here to get your tickets now to watch Mal and the boys go up against the Dockers.
