Sydney's Nick Malceski says superstition stopped him from talking-up the radical knee surgery that enabled him to resume playing just 13 weeks after rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament.

The 24-year-old's season appeared over before it had started when his ACL snapped in two during a 2008 NAB Cup clash against Hawthorn in Launceston.

Confronted with the prospect of the 12 months on the sidelines customarily required following conventional surgery, Malceski opted instead for a controversial technique where the torn ligament is replaced by industrial strength, synthetic fibre.

The hard-running defender amazed the football community by returning to action in Sydney's Round 8 clash with Essendon at ANZ Stadium after just three months of rehabilitation.

Highly-conscious of the intense debate about the risks he'd taken, a 'superstitious' Malceski declined all requests for interviews about his experience - until now.

"I didn't want to jinx myself to do it again, so I sort of just stayed away from the media," Malceski said on Friday.

"I spoke to the doctor and he said it was probably a good thing to stay away from media for the next year."

Malceski gradually rediscovered his touch in seven AFL appearances before a calf injury that he insists was unrelated to the knee forced him out for a month ahead of his return for the Swans' finals campaign.

Importantly, the knee has been trouble-free throughout.

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

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

"I've had no complications other than the calf injury which set me back six weeks, and I ended up redoing it (the calf) over that time."

Asked whether he would recommend the synthetic ligament surgery to others, Malceski said: "Absolutely".

"I've had people calling me up, just random people calling me up, and I've spoken to a couple of guys who have done their knees and wished they did it."

"Luke Webster from Freo's done it four times and I was speaking to him and he actually got it done as well."

"Everything was going well with him until he had a fall at training and ended up doing his cartilage I think, but nothing to do with the cruciate."

"They call up the club then (club doctor) Nathan (Gibbs) speaks to me and he usually goes along with it, but sometimes I speak to them."

One of the most improved players in the competition in 2007 before his injury, Malceski is looking forward to taking his game to another level in '09.

If the way he's attacking his pre-season is any guide, then a step up will be a mere formality.

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