John Blakey joined the Sydney Swans in 2006 and has since held several roles within an ever-evolving coaching panel.

Following a stellar playing career spanning 359 games with Fitzroy (1985-1992) and North Melbourne (1993-2002), with an honour roll as good as the best to have played the game, Blakey wasted no time in putting his expertise to the test after Leigh Matthews and reigning premier Brisbane lured him back to be an assistant coach.

He tasted immediate success as the Lions went about claiming the 2003 flag, their third on the trot, in what was a golden era for Brisbane.

Blakey spent another three years at Brisbane, stepping up in the absence of Matthews (illness) as coach for one game in 2005, before an opportunity knocked alongside former Kangaroos teammate John Longmire at the Swans.

He's overseen almost every area of the ground as an assistant coach during his time at Sydney.

At the end of 2015, Blakey was appointed Coaching Director and Head of Development where – under his guidance – Rhyce Shaw flourished as coach of the NEAFL side.

In 2018, he worked closely with development coaches Tadhg Kennelly and Jeremy Laidler as the NEAFL side booked a ticket to the Grand Final.

In 2019, he overlooked development coaches Laidler and Lloyd Perris.