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

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.

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.

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/ [https://www.apparitionmedia.com.au/] And follow their work on Insta right here [https://www.instagram.com/apparitionmedia/].

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.

16: Zane Rednwhite | The Go-to Fan on Swans Social Media

Zane Rednwhite has become one of the most recognisable supporter voices in the Sydney Swans online world. Through plenty of passion, a touch of satire and raw fan emotion, Zane has built a loyal following of Bloods supporters who tune in not for polished media takes, but for the authentic rollercoaster that comes with loving a football club too much. In this episode, we explore the rise of fan-created Swans media, Zane's most cherished memories as a Swans fan, and why clubs like Sydney become stitched into people’s identities far beyond the final siren. We talk heartbreak, group chats, online communities and the strange emotional bond that forms between strangers wearing the same colours. ... Plus it comes with a fancy new Bloodlines intro! 🔴⚪️