The legacy, history and stories of the Sydney Swans run deep in every member, fan, player, coach and staff member. Each has their own unique connection and story to the club, but the feeling of passion, community, euphoria and heartbreak is universally shared, whether that be in Sydney, South Melbourne or around the world. 

For Caroline Maloney, the connection to South Melbourne and the Swans came through her late father, who shared stories of the South Melbourne playing and training at Lakeside Oval, and hearing about the players, the characters and the history of the club. 

“When I think about what the Bloods means to me, I don't think about premierships, I don't think about players, I don't even think about football. I think about my dad,” Maloney told Swans media. 

“My love of the Bloods didn't begin with a game; it began with him. He gave me this club long before I was old enough to understand what I've been given.” 

Supporting the Swans wasn’t the obvious team for Maloney or her family. Growing up 1,200 kilometres away from Sydney in a small town in the southwest corner of Portland, Victoria, the family did not regularly attend South Melbourne games, and it wasn’t until the Swans moved to Sydney in 1982 that watching the Swans as a family became a weekly Sunday afternoon occurrence. 

“Those early stories that he passed down are probably still some of my most treasured memories of supporting the Swans,” Maloney said. 

“He gave me a connection to the family history to South Melbourne and ultimately to the Bloods.” 

Since the passing of her father four years ago, Maloney has found that her connection to the Swans has further deepened, and the stories he once told her are now a lasting legacy to her and are meant to be passed on to future generations. 

With the hope of ensuring the memory and legacy of the previous generations, Caroline has been able to further her connection with the club and the wider bloods community beyond just the four quarters on the weekend. 

Created in 2021, Caroline played an integral role in the set-up of the ‘Sisters of the South’. 

The group is a Melbourne-based female supporters group that aims to highlight and celebrate the club's roots in South Melbourne, honour the history that brought the club to the modern day and give women a genuine sense of community around the club they love. 

“What started as a conversation has grown into a wonderful group of women, so many great friendships and a real sense of belonging,” Maloney said. 

A recent event held by the ‘Sisters of the South’ saw over 80 women with varying connections to the club come together and celebrate their love for the red and white and share their history with the club as they continue to write the next chapter for fans of the 152-year-old club. 

“We've had somebody whose dad was the scorekeeper at Lakeside Oval, somebody who ran the canteen, somebody's great-grandmother who used to wash the jumpers," Maloney said. 

“That is what I wanted to change with Sisters of the South. I wanted to build a community where you could walk into the room and immediately know that everybody understood how you felt.” 

“You don't have to explain the history that matters to you, why you care so deeply about a win or why a win can make your entire weekend. What's been really wonderful is watching our community grow. It's not just about the footy together; it's about the friendship, the shared experiences, remembering the past and creating those new memories together.” 

Caroline has also become an integral part of the Sydney Swans Foundation in recent years. 

Believing that the foundation represents the future of the club. The foundation has provided Caroline with the opportunity to ensure the legacy of her father, grandfather, and so many other generations is kept alive and that the club they love continues to prosper into the next generation. 

“Supporting the foundation feels like a way of giving back something to the club that's given me and my family so much,” Maloney said. 

“I'm a big believer in not letting generations after us lose the history of this club and being a custodian of that legacy. I'm so fortunate to have been a part of this club for so long, and I think there's something important about giving back when you receive so much. 

“If we want the Swans to continue to be a club that people feel connected to for generations to come, we've all got a role to play in that.” 

The Sydney Swans Foundation has released its 2026 Impact Report which showcases the collective contribution of the Swans community in creating positive change both on and off the field.

For more information about the Sydney Swans Foundation and how to get involved, visit Sydney Swans Foundation.

Click here to view the 2026 Sydney Swans Foundation Impact Report.