Sydney Swans AFLW coach Scott Gowans is immersing himself in all things red and white since being appointed in the lead role three weeks ago.

Having recently made the move to the harbour city, the former North Melbourne and Collingwood AFLW coach is keen to ensure the famous Bloods culture is engrained in the Sydney Swans women’s program.

"To get the opportunity to coach at Sydney is amazing, I've heard a lot about the Bloods culture, and I just want to learn about it and implement it in my coaching,” Gowans said.

On his first day at the club, Gowans was given a tour of the Swans office by John Longmire and he has already sat down with former Swans Captain and now Head of Player Wellbeing and Development, Brett Kirk, who was part of the playing group which defined the now famous ‘Bloods Culture’.

“I spent a bit of time with Brett Kirk and he's filled me in with his history and what his experiences are with the culture,” Gowans said.

“I want to learn more about that as so far it's been really special.”

After being presented his 2005 Premiership Medal, Kirk famously declared “This is for the Bloods” – a moment etched in Swans history and one which refers to the culture the club is now known for. 

Kirk's twin daughters, who are part of the QBE Sydney Swans Academy and aspire to wear the red and white just like their Dad, were also part of the club's AFLW campaign and recreated this moment and spoke of wanting to be part of the Bloods culture.

“Everyone involved with the Sydney Swans remains a custodian of our culture,” Kirk wrote in a letter to Bloods members in 2020.

“While the people may change, the foundations of the culture that were built back in ‘03 remain evident.”

And it’s the people who Gowans believes are at the core of the exciting times ahead as the club prepares to welcome an AFLW team.

“The big thing to me is people power,” Gowans said.

“When you listen to the girls in their huddles, they are always communicating and helping each other and seeking and taking feedback. Then off-field with all the people that want to help out, the staffing levels and people putting their hand up to help out.

“It’s a really exciting phase because that is what will start the team and if we get off-field right then on field will be pretty good as well.”

Over the last fortnight Gowans has been keeping an eye on the local talent who could make their mark in the AFLW with the AFLW Summer Series providing a place for emerging talent from NSW and ACT to put their hand up as the Swans look to start their list build ahead of entry into the competition next season.

Round one of the series saw both Swans teams defeated by the Giants in difficult, wet conditions at Homebush but Round two provided sunshine and dry conditions and allowed some better insight for Gowans as Swans White (Sydney and Illawarra) took on Swans Red (Northern NSW)

“It was good to see better conditions than last week, it's easier to see ball movement and work around the contest,” Gowans said.

“The benefit of a series like this is getting to see the talent coming through. The younger talent mixing with the older talent as well. From this series we will select a side for the winter series so it's really important that players can showcase what they have got.

“It also gives us an opportunity to test them athletically and gives us an overall picture of where the group is at.”

Before joining the Swans, Gowans coaching experience was in Victoria with an impressive resume which included Victorian junior representative sides, Diamond Creek VFLW Head Coach, Assistant Coach at Carlton for the inaugural AFLW season, Head Coach North Melbourne AFLW and Assistant Coach of the Collingwood AFLW team.

He now is faced with the challenge of working in New South Wales and scouting talent across the state that he believes is AFLW ready.

“Coming up here I have only ever experienced the Victorian system with the NAB League and the VFLW so I’m here to try get a handle of where these girls are as a group,” Gowans said.

“It’s important to see what concepts they need to learn and what they already have knowledge of. You can tell that they have been practicing kicking, marking and hand-balling and the next step is more the structure.

“It's a case of taking what I have seen, giving feedback and helping the Summer Series coaches coach to the structure that I think it will take to win AFLW.”