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.

  1. Sep 9

    24: Madison Clarke | How True Bloods Became More Than a Podcast

    Swans fans who listen to True Bloods know the voice. They know the opinions. And they definitely know the banter. But who is Madison Clarke outside of the podcast so many know him for? And where did his love for the red and white begin? Mads is co-host of the True Bloods Podcast and one of the familiar personalities within the Sydney Swans supporter community. In this episode, we go back to where Mads’ connection with the red and white began, the people and moments that turned supporting the Swans into such an important part of his life, and the memories that still stand above the rest. We also dive into his journey with True Bloods, what being part of the podcast has given him beyond simply talking footy, and the friendships, experiences and sense of community that have come from putting himself behind a microphone and sharing his passion with other Swans supporters. And, as always, we get into the players, games, heartbreaks and unforgettable moments that make up Mads’ own Bloodline. A chance to get to know the supporter behind one of the voices Swans fans have become so familiar - and appreciative - of for years now.

  2. Aug 26

    23: Deebles Baxter | How a Swans Fan Became the Voice of the Fanbase

    What happens when talking about the Swans with your mates turns into thousands of people listening along? David “Deebles” Baxter is one of the voices behind the True Bloods Podcast, one of the most established independent Sydney Swans fan podcasts and a familiar name across the wider Bloods supporter community. Through countless episodes and content pieces, Deebles and the True Bloods team have created a place for supporters to celebrate the wins, dissect the losses, disagree with each other and ride the emotional rollercoaster of following the red and white together. But this episode is about the supporter behind the microphone. We go back to where Deebles’ own love of the Sydney Swans began, the people and experiences that shaped it, and the memories that have stuck with him through the years. We also dive into the story of True Bloods, what it’s like putting yourself out there as a fan in the public eye, the community and relationships that have grown around the podcast, and what he’s learned from spending years talking footy with some of the most passionate Swans supporters around. At its heart, this is the story of what can happen when you love a football club, find your people, and decide to pick up a microphone. Note: This episode was recorded prior to the police investigation into the five banned Swans players. I've recorded an intro that speak to that at the start of the episode.

  3. Aug 5

    22: The Rookie in Red and White Podcast | Can You Teach Someone to Love the Bloods?

    Can fandom actually be learned? That's the question Sos and Odette set out to answer when they launched the Rookie in Red and White podcast. One lifelong Sydney Swans tragic. One complete AFL rookie. Together, they've documented the journey from curiosity to genuine obsession, exploring what it is that makes people fall in love with the Bloods. In this episode, we unpack where the idea for the podcast came from, whether becoming a passionate supporter is something that can actually be taught, and the rituals, traditions and moments that slowly transform someone from a casual observer into a rusted-on fan. Along the way, we talk about the memories that have shaped Sos as a lifelong Swans supporter, the surprises Odette has discovered since entering the world of AFL, and why sharing the journey together has created something that resonates with supporters no matter how long they've been following the red and white.

  4. Jul 22

    21: Matt Donnelly | Managing a Group of 30,000 Swans Diehards on Facebook

    Every football club has its gathering places. For Sydney Swans supporters, some of the biggest conversations don't happen at the SCG. They happen online. Matt Donnelly is one of the people helping keep those conversations alive, playing a key role in running some of the Sydney Swans' largest Facebook communities. Every day, he sees the passion, humour, heartbreak and occasional chaos that comes with bringing thousands of passionate supporters together in one place. In this episode, Matt shares what it's really like managing those online communities, the friendships and challenges that come with it, and why supporter groups have become such an important part of the modern football experience. Along the way, we dive into where Matt's love of the Swans began, the players and moments that have stayed with him, and why the people you meet through a football club often become just as important as the games themselves.

  5. Jul 9

    20: Maddi Anderson | Standing on the MCG on Grand Final Day

    While most fans are finding their seats, the cheer squad is already hard at work, preparing the banners, setting the atmosphere and helping create the moments that players run towards before the first bounce. In this episode, Maddi Anderson takes us behind the scenes of life in the cheer squad, sharing what it's really like to stand on the MCG on Grand Final day, hold up the banner in front of more than 100,000 people, and play a small but unforgettable role in some of the biggest moments in Swans history. We also explore the story behind Sisters of the South, the female-inclusive supporter group helping bring Sydney Swans fans together in Melbourne, and the friendships, traditions and sense of belonging that have grown from following the red and white. Along the way, Maddi reflects on the memories that have shaped her journey as a Swans supporter and why, for so many people, supporting a football club becomes about far more than what happens on the field.

  6. Jun 24

    19: Polly Porridge | She Started as a Supporter, Now She's a True Blood

    Polly Porridge never expected supporting the Sydney Swans would lead here. What started as a love for the red and white has become something much bigger: a place in the True Bloods team, a voice in the Swans supporter community, and a role in helping tell the story of the club’s AFLW journey. In this episode, Polly shares where her love of the Swans began, the moments and people that shaped her connection to the club, and what it means to now be part of the media landscape around the team she grew up loving. We also explore the growth of AFLW, the importance of giving women’s football the attention it deserves, and the gratitude Polly feels for the friendships, opportunities and community that have come from being part of True Bloods. This is a conversation about finding your people, using your voice, and what can happen when supporting a football club opens doors you never saw coming.

  7. Jun 10

    18: Tyson Hunter | Creating The Adam Goodes Mural

    Oh man, this one was special. Sometimes football stories aren’t really about football. Tyson Hunter is a founder of Apparition Media: The artistic and creative force behind the now-iconic Adam Goodes mural on the corner of Crown Street in Surry Hills, Sydney. It is a powerful tribute to one of the most important figures in Sydney Swans history and Australian sport. What makes Tyson’s story interesting is that he’s not a lifelong Swans supporter. Yet somehow, he found himself creating one of the most emotionally significant pieces of public art connected to the club. In this episode, Tyson shares how the mural came to life, what Adam Goodes represented to him beyond football, and why storytelling through art can sometimes say more than words ever could. We talk creativity, meaning, identity, and the strange ways football clubs leave their mark on people, and (evidently) on actual walls. You can learn more about Apparition Media at https://www.apparitionmedia.com.au/ And follow their work on Insta right here.

  8. May 27

    17: Jev at 100K Sports | $1 a Day on the Swans to Win the Flag

    For a long time, being a Sydney Swans fan meant the same thing. You watched the game, yelled at the TV, argued with mates and carried the emotional scars into Monday morning. Not anymore. Jev, one of the voices behind 100K Sports and a passionate Sydney Swans supporter, represents a new generation of fan culture. One built on podcasts, player interviews, wild reactions, group chats, social media and the strange reality of living every moment of footy online. And of course, his passion for that world is just as high as his passion for the red and white too. In this episode, we unpack what it means to follow the Swans in the modern era, why younger fans experience the game differently, and how the modern media landscape fights to keep every scrap of the attention's audience daily.

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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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