The Gold Coast Suns have reportedly signed former vice-captain Nick Malceski as the club's newest development coach ahead of the 2024 season.
As incoming senior coach Damien Hardwick begins assembling his coaching panel ahead of next season, Malceski is understood to be replacing Jackson Kornberg, who held the position over the course of the last two years.
Malceski played 210 games across his AFL playing career, with 176 of those coming at the Sydney Swans, including his match-winning 2012 Grand Final appearance.
Malceski crossed to the Gold Coast Suns on a three-year contract at the end of the 2014 season but retired at the conclusion of the 2016 campaign due to ongoing knee injuries.
According toย AFL Media journalist Josh Gabelich, Malceski has returned to the Sunshine Coast to head the Suns' player development.
Gold Coast has signed Nick Malceski as a development coach. The former Swans and Suns defender will replace Jackson Kornberg. Spent the past three seasons coaching in the QAFL. More on @AFLcomau
— Josh Gabelich (@JoshGabelich) October 4, 2023
The ex-Swan will always be remembered for his match-winning goal that saw Sydney become premiers in 2012, kicking an incredible snap to put the Swans up ten points with 40 seconds remaining in the decider.
Malceski turned to coaching after his retirement from the league, having worked in the QAFL since 2021 as the head coach of the Labrador Tigers. His work with the Tigers saw him awarded the 2021 AFLQ Senior Coach of the Year.
It won't be his first coaching stint with the Suns, having spent five years across coaching roles there from 2016-2021, including as head coach of the Suns' NEAFL team.
Last month, Hardwick poached Geelong assistant coach and 2017 Richmond premiership player Shaun Grigg to join him on his maiden Gold Coast coaching panel.
2024 will be Hardwick's first season as head coach of the Suns after having joined on a six-year deal in August, following his Richmond departure earlier in the year.
