TRADING Harley Bennell and Charlie Dixon in the off-season was a huge step forward for Gold Coast as a club, says veteran defender Nick Malceski.

Bennell headed to Fremantle and Dixon to Port Adelaide after both foundation players had well-publicised off-field dramas in 2015.

Their misdemeanours and subsequent trading was the exclamation point on a year of cultural change under new coach Rodney Eade.

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The Suns had new standards and they weren't budging.

"We made a statement last year moving on Charlie and Harley," Malceski told AFL.com.au.

"I think that was a big step forward for the club."

Malceski, who came from the Sydney Swans' fabled 'Bloods' culture, says the Suns have taken big strides since his arrival 18 months ago.

Along with veteran Michael Rischitelli, he was a strong voice in driving the changes.

"The word culture gets thrown round a fair bit, but we've been working on stuff inside the inner sanctum and things we want to be known for and things we want to improve, and it starts on the training track," Malceski said.

"We're harder trainers now.

"The boys are starting to understand what you need to do to be an AFL player.

"That's really taken a step forward."

Touk Miller and Jaeger O'Meara are two of the young Suns driving change at the club. Picture: AFL Media



Part of the growth has been in leadership, with Gold Coast electing to go with an expanded group of 10 players this season.

Malceski says the injury troubles of last year exposed young players to more responsibility and pressure, and they've developed accordingly.

Of most relief to the 31-year-old though, is his own early-season form reversal.

After coming to the Suns on a big three-year contract, Malceski had a horror year, battling a knee injury and performing well below his All Australian form of 2014.

His laser-like left footed kicking deserted him. His kick had no power, no penetration and no accuracy.

But he's now fixed the problem and is thriving in a new role on the wing with a rejuvenated body.

"For me it was my knee last year," he said.

"My standing leg wasn't strong and I've been doing weights flat out to get that right, and I think I've got a lot more power in my right leg, my standing leg.

"I was collapsing a lot in my kicking. I feel like my kicking's back now and hopefully it keeps improving.

"I'm feeling like I'm in a better position than last year, but I still want to improve more."

Nick Malceski tests his kicking out at Suns training on Thursday. Picture: AFL Media

