NICK Malceski would recommend the revolutionary knee surgery he underwent to any player who injures a cruciate ligament.

The Swans sent Malceski to a French surgeon after he injured his knee in the 2008 pre-season. The surgeon used synthetic fibres to rebuild Malceski’s knee – turning what might have been a season-long spell on the sidelines to just three months.

After previously having undergone a conventional knee operation, Malceski is all in favour of the new procedure, despite concerns raised by some in the medical industry.

"It feels really good. I couldn't tell the difference between both knees and both are as strong as each other," Malceski said on Friday.

"I'd do it again if I end up doing my knee again."

A leading AFL doctor, Dr John Orchard, has publicly called the procedure "quite risky".

"If I had a patient who asked me, ‘Should I go and have this operation’, I would say it is quite risky given the track record with artificial ligaments," said Orchard, the co-author of the AFL's annual injury report.

Malceski has not spoken about his knee injury until now, keeping silent because he says he was "superstitious".

"I didn't want to jinx myself to do it again so I sort of just stayed away from the media. I spoke to the doctor and he said it was probably a good thing to stay away from media for the next year."

Malceski returned for this year’s round-eight clash with the Bombers. He played 11 games for the year including a season-best 28 disposals in round 11 against West Coast.

A calf injury kept him out for six further weeks, but Malceski said the injury was unrelated to the knee surgery.

And despite some doctors’ concerns, Malceski wants other players to know about the radical  surgery's benefits.

"I've had people call me up just randomly, other players, ringing the club wanting to more about the club. And I've spoken with a couple of guys who've done their knee and they wished they'd [tried the new surgery].

"Luke Webster from Freo has done [his knee] four times and he's had it [the new surgery] done.

"No-one else has really done it but I'd advise anyone to do it. When you're out for only three months as opposed to sort of nine or 12 months..."

It's been a tough off-season for Malceski with plenty of running, but the knee has coped well.

"I'm probably the fittest I've ever been," he said.