Bloodlines: The Story of the Sydney Swans, One Memory at a Time

Darcy Smyth
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Bloodlines is a podcast about more than football. It is a story-led series that captures the heart and culture of the Sydney Swans through personal conversations with the players, coaches, staff, fans and community members who shaped it. Darcy Smyth is a lifelong Swans fan, business and leadership mentor, and storyteller. He believes great clubs are not built on moments, they are built on memory. This podcast is his way of helping preserve the ones that matter most for a club that means so much, to so many.

Episodes

  1. FEB 4

    9: John Prentice | Backing the Bloods Beyond the Siren

    John Prentice is a true gentleman and a kind soul. Maybe that's why he's one of the many people who help sustain a football club long after the siren sounds. A member of the "Bloodliners Coterie", John supports the team through the Sydney Swans Foundation, backing the club beyond match-day and into its future. In this episode, he shares what it means to be part of that inner circle, why he chose to support the club at that level, and how his relationship with the Swans has evolved over time. We talk about loyalty, long-term belief, and the quieter side of football fandom. The part that doesn’t always show up on the scoreboard, but matters deeply to the life of a club. Having this platform to share his Swans story meant a lot to him - and we're honoured to have shared the microphone with the great man.

    41 min

  2. 12/18/2025

    See You in February 2026!

    A quick note to wrap up season 1 of Bloodlines with your Host Darcy Smyth. A massive thanks to everyone who's tuned in, to the guests who have offered their perspectives and stories, and to Leo Barry for changing the course of history in 2005. We'll be back with more in February 2026 as the Swannies gear up for a premiership tilt in the season ahead. Merry Christmas to you and your families, up the Bloods!

    2 min
  3. 8: Tommy Flanagan | Passion First, Banter Always

    12/10/2025

    8: Tommy Flanagan | Passion First, Banter Always

    Tommy Flanagan brings personality, humour and passion to the Sydney Swans community in a way very few can. Whether it’s through storytelling, conversation or pure fan energy, he’s become a recognisable voice in the red and white universe. In this episode, Tommy shares how his love for the Swans turned into content, connection and community. From his role in fan media to his time on the True Bloods podcast, he reflects on how sharing football isn’t just about the game, but the culture, the memories and the emotion that lives around it. We dig into the moments that cemented his loyalty, the characters and stories he’s collected along the way, and what it feels like to be part of a fan-driven movement that gives supporters a voice of their own.

    44 min

  4. 11/26/2025

    7: Michelle Cooling | Crafting the Social Voice of the Sydney Swans

    Michelle Cooling doesn’t just manage social media for the Sydney Swans. She shapes the way the club speaks, appears, and connects with the world. In this episode, Michelle takes us behind the scenes of modern football storytelling. From the pressure of matchday communications to the strategy behind viral moments, she explains how a football club now lives across screens as much as it does on grass. We talk about her journey through sports media, what it’s like operating inside an elite football organisation, and how you earn trust in a place where history, emotion and performance collide every week. This is a conversation about influence, storytelling, and what it really means to carry a club’s voice in the digital age.

    45 min

  5. 11/12/2025

    6: Hugh Humphreys | Inside the Making of 'Young Bloods'

    What happens when a club’s culture is so rich, so deeply ingrained, it becomes a story worth telling in its own right? Hugh Humphreys is the co-founder of Hustle Media and the creative force behind Young Bloods, a groundbreaking 28-part TikTok docuseries that follows eight Sydney Swans Academy athletes on their journey through the club’s fabled Bloods culture. With behind-the-scenes access, self-shot player footage, and a production style built for the digital age, Hugh and his team captured the spark of tomorrow through the weight of 150 years of legacy. In this episode, we explore how Young Bloods came to life, the role of the Sydney Swans in shaping its tone and soul, and the challenges of storytelling in fast, scrollable formats without losing depth. From the creative decisions behind the lens to the emotional beats that connect past and future, this is a conversation about sport, storytelling, and the potential of youth in the world of AFL football. You can watch the entire 'Young Bloods' series here. You can check out Hustle Media here.

    52 min

  6. 10/29/2025

    5: Lachlan Mckirdy | Swans in the Headlines, Blood in the Veins

    Lachlan McKirdy has become one of the most distinctive emerging voices in Australian sports media. Sharp, grounded, and unashamedly red and white at heart. In this episode, Lachlan shares the story behind his rise in journalism, his experience covering AFL in a rugby-leaning state, and the memorable moments that made his connection to the Sydney Swans something deeper than professional. From press boxes to packed stands, he reflects on what it means to live inside the world of both 'supporter' and 'observer' at the same time. We explore the unique storytelling power of sport, the connection between media and fandom, and what it really means to follow a club that wears its culture on its sleeve. Lachlan is the ideal guest to tell the Bloods story from both sides of the coin. It's a conversation filled with insight, warmth, and the deep resonance of Swans DNA.

    50 min

  7. 10/15/2025

    4: Joel Brown | The 1000th Goal and One Final Wish

    Joel Brown’s story is unlike any you’ve heard on Bloodlines so far. A lifelong Swans fan alongside his sister Krystal, Joel was front and centre during one of the most iconic moments in AFL history: Buddy Franklin’s 1000th goal. While most were caught up in the chaos and celebration, Joel and Krystal were there to fulfil a family promise. Carrying a photo and the ashes of their beloved Nan, Edna Dixon, they made their way to the centre of the SCG to honour her wish of becoming part of the place she loved most. What followed was a moment that blended footy history with deeply personal meaning - spontaneous, heartfelt and unforgettable. This is a story about family, fandom, and the powerful ways the Bloods culture can connect us to those who came before.

    46 min

  8. 10/01/2025

    3: Matthew Gray | From the Outer Wing to the Inner Sanctum

    Matt Gray, better known as Mitzy, is as good a storyteller for the red and white as you will ever come across. In this episode, we go on a journey through his lifelong obsession with the Sydney Swans. Mitzy doesn’t just follow the club. He breathes it, dreams it, and remembers it with a clarity that borders on magic. He’s one of those rare fans who stores every game, every moment, and every heartbreak deep in his memory. From obscure home-and-away games in the mid-90s to the ecstasy of the modern era, Mitzy brings the Swans’ story to life in a way few others can. His love for the red and white is as emotional as it is encyclopedic. We cover everything from his journeys on overnight trains to get to special games, to the friendships built with players, to the moments that hit so hard they changed him. And just as a cheeky sidenote, yes, Mitzy was in the rooms after the 2005 Grand Final win. That’s who we’re dealing with. If you’ve ever loved the Sydney Swans with your whole heart, this one will feel like home.

    1h 13m

  9. 09/17/2025

    2: Joe Moore | Writing the Swans into History

    Before the SCG Museum existed, someone had to bring it to life. That someone was Joe Moore. A passionate Swans fan and gifted writer, Joe spent the better part of two years researching and authoring over 200 biographies for the club's most influential figures, from Hall of Famers to presidents to premiership legends. Along the way, he conducted more than 100 interviews and penned over 250,000 words capturing the club’s 150-year legacy. In this episode, we talk about Joe’s writing process, what he learned from digging through the club’s archives, and how his relationship with the red and white has evolved across eras, heartbreaks and triumphs. You can check out Joe's work at https://www.joemoorewriter.com/ or connect with him professionally over on his LinkedIn

    51 min

  10. 09/04/2025

    1: Barnaby Howarth | From the SCG to the Speakers Stage

    Barnaby Howarth's story exemplifies Bloods culture as much as anyone that's ever played for the club. He was drafted onto the rookie list at the Sydney Swans as a young man, despite being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at just 14 years old. He played in the Swans system during the late nineties and early 2000s. At the age of 25, Barnaby survived a life-altering stroke. Rather than letting that define him, he came back to community football, eventually reaching his 100th senior game and being inducted into the Sydney AFL Hall of Fame. Since then, he’s become a keynote speaker, a documentary storyteller, and the host of Everyday Greatness - a platform dedicated to the unsung heroes of everyday life. He’s an ambassador for diabetes, stroke and cancer foundations, and one of the most grounded, human voices you’ll find when it comes to resilience, self-awareness and what really matters. From the SCG to the speaking stage, Barnaby has carved a legacy that goes beyond footy. This is a conversation about resilience, identity, and what it really means to wear the red and white - both on the field and off it. Want to learn more about Barnaby's story? Head to: https://barnabyhowarth.com.au/

    43 min
  • 10 Episodes

About

Bloodlines is a podcast about more than football. It is a story-led series that captures the heart and culture of the Sydney Swans through personal conversations with the players, coaches, staff, fans and community members who shaped it. Darcy Smyth is a lifelong Swans fan, business and leadership mentor, and storyteller. He believes great clubs are not built on moments, they are built on memory. This podcast is his way of helping preserve the ones that matter most for a club that means so much, to so many.

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