Sydney Swans defender Nick Malceski’s 2012 season will be forever etched in club history for the realisation of his premiership dream following three knee reconstructions, two unbelievable Grand Final goals, and one of the most impressive beards in the competition.

Malceski, who hit a speed bump when he was dropped from the senior side mid-season, regained his place in the Swans side in round 15 as a late replacement for Marty Mattner and made the most of every opportunity from that point on.

Mal’s goal in the dying seconds of the fourth quarter to secure the Swans’ premiership win will be sure to go down in AFL folk law, while his first goal from tight in on the Olympic Stand boundary line was not far behind either.

Mal spoke to sydneyswans.com.au about his season, his two spectacular goals and plans for his beard.

How did you sum up your 2012 season?

I think I started off pretty well and then mid-season I got dropped because I wasn’t playing my role and lost a bit of form. When Marty Mattner gave me the opportunity when he went down with a groin (injury), I took it with both hands and now I’m a premiership player.

What was it that you improved to stay in the team?

I think I just had a good balance between defence and attack and I just played my role each week in defence and thanks to AJ (Alex Johnson) because he helped me out a lot as well.

As a team what did you see as the greatest improvements this year on last?

I think our younger guys stood up and a lot of blokes improved this year and wanted to become better players and (Lewis) Jetta was one of those guys, the same with Alex (Johnson). They just both went to a new level this year. They helped us a lot.

After coming so close in 2006, what does it feel like to finally add premiership player to your resume?

It’s the absolute ultimate. It’s something I’ve dreamt about my whole life especially after missing out in ’06 by a point. If I finished my career now I’d be very happy. If I hadn’t won one and I finished my career, I’d just have that little man on the shoulders saying ‘you lost a premiership by a point’. Now I can look back and be very, very happy.

Talk us through that first goal in the first quarter when you were tight in on the pocket? Not a great side for a left-footer to try and swing the ball in from there.

I just picked it up and I had a quick glance at the goals and I snapped it. It started out of bounds and then it swung back and I think the wind helped it and I was just glad it made it through.

How about the last goal of the match - the one that sealed the premiership?

It was an unbelievable experience and I couldn’t ask for anything better. Lucky that Hanners gave me the handball. He looked like he actually wanted to have a shot if you look at the vision, but I was squealing at him and he fed it out to me and I swung it on the boot and it went through and I celebrated a little bit.

What was the feeling when it sailed through and all the players got around you?

I got the message from Stuey Maxfield probably 20 seconds before that saying there was only a minute left and it was just before that stoppage in the forward line. Once the ball was in the air, you look at the vision and everyone had sort of stopped and it felt like an eternity when it was going through, and when it did sort of all these emotions went through me and I ran away from everyone and I was pushing blokes off. When I saw Teddy I just jumped on him and the celebrations were awesome.

We then had to make sure we put the world behind the ball then because there was 30 seconds left, and then our midfielders won the clearance and the rest is history.

Were there any other key plays that stand out for you from the Grand Final?

It would have to Dan Hannebery in the first quarter when he took that mark, it was unbelievable and it was just a real lifter for the team. He isn’t a big bloke, but he threw himself in front of a ruckman and Sammy Reid, both who are 6’6’’ plus and to see that was just extraordinary.

What are your plans for the off-season?

I’ve got no plans at the moment so I’m just free-falling it. I’ll hang around Sydney for a little bit and then probably head over to Perth because my wife’s family is over there, so I’ll probably go over there for a couple of weeks. I will also head down to Melbourne for a bit to see my family, but no plans and that’s the way I like it.

And what are your plans for the beard?

I was going to shave it off after the Granny, but I think I might keep it. I’ve got a baby due in January so I think my wife will let me keep it until then.