AFL stars Bailey Smith and Tammy Hembrow dubbed Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce of the league amid romance rumors
Peers front a power‑couple buzz at the Brownlow Medal count, while Smith says they are just friends as speculation swirls.
AFL peers have dubbed Bailey Smith and Tammy Hembrow the Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce of the league, a label that has amplified questions about the status of the Gold Coast influencer’s romance with the Geelong star. The chatter followed a clip circulated on Instagram by GQ Australia during the Brownlow Medal count, where attendees were asked which WAG and footballer best fit the couple’s dynamic. Two players quickly named Smith and Hembrow, with Carlton’s Patrick Cripps quipping, 'Probably Bailey Smith and his missus,' and Finn Callaghan adding, 'I'm not sure if Bailey Smith has brought Tammy Hembrow here, but it would be him, wouldn't it? Yeah!' The acknowledgment underscored the public interest in the pair, even as official confirmation remained elusive.
Tammy Hembrow, 31, later gave fans a glimpse of her plans that night through an Instagram post showing a medical questionnaire ahead of a scuba-diving lesson. 'Ya girl is getting scuba certified catch me in the ocean for the rest of my life x,' she wrote, suggesting she would not be by Smith’s side at the Brownlow Medal count despite weeks of speculation about a date night. Bailey Smith, meanwhile, attended the event solo, dressed in an all-black tux and sporting his signature blonde hair as he posed for photos without a visible date.
In a development that kept the focus squarely on the players’ own accounts, Bailey Smith addressed the romance chatter hours later during an interview on KIIS FM's Kyle & Jackie O Show. Asked if he would be bringing Tammy to the Brownlow Medal count, he replied: 'No, I'm not. No. I didn't want to bore her with footy all night. She's not a big footy fan. And we're just mates.' He also revealed he would be taking his jiu-jitsu instructor to the awards night, a detail that seemed to further stretch the public narrative around the evening. The comments came just as the Brownlow Medal count was underway, framing the night as much about speculation off the field as about on-field recognition.
Fans quickly reacted to the evolving story on social media. Some expressed disappointment that Tammy did not attend with Smith, while others leaned into the humor of the ‘power couple’ label by comparing it to high‑profile celebrity pairings. One commenter wrote, 'I'm so mad at him,' while another suggested, 'Disappointing.' Others urged patience, noting that neither Smith nor Hembrow had publicly confirmed a relationship, and that the couple’s status remained a matter of personal choice and timing.
The Brownlow Medal is AFL’s premier night of recognition, and the surrounding headlines have cast a spotlight on off-field dynamics that often accompany elite sport. The exchange of posts, clips, and interviews in the wake of weeks of rumors illustrates how fans and peers alike search for clarity in a story that blends sport, influence culture, and celebrity dating narratives. While some observers treat the chatter as a heightened form of entertainment, others see it as part of the broader public interest in athletes’ lives beyond the field. For now, both Smith and Hembrow have steered the conversation toward friendship, with the Brownlow night continuing to unfold as a milestone event separate from their personal lives.