Bailey Smith ends fling with Tammy Hembrow, back on the prowl after Brownlow absence

Bailey Smith has ended his short-lived romance with Tammy Hembrow and is reportedly back to sliding into the DMs of younger women, signaling a return to single life for the 23-year-old Western Bulldogs midfielder.

The couple had been seen dating on the Gold Coast, with insiders saying the initial sparks faded after concerns were raised about Tammy’s past relationship with ex-husband Matt Zuowski. A number of Zuowski’s friends reportedly spoke to Smith, offering perspectives on how the influencer’s history might be perceived in a new relationship. One insider told Daily Mail Australia that these conversations “paint Tammy in a light that gave Bailey pause,” contributing to a rethink about whether the pairing was a good idea. Tammy and Zuowski, who were married for seven months before their split, have since moved through the public eye separately, and the whispers around Tammy’s romantic history added another layer to the dynamic.

Despite the early chemistry, sources say Smith cooled quickly. He was reportedly open to exploring where things could go, but the warning about Tammy’s past relationships appears to have prompted a pivot. In the weeks that followed, he has been described as keeping things casual and, according to one insider, already moving on to other romantic avenues less encumbered by baggage. The chatter around his social-media activity has included references to his being back in touch with a couple of former flames, signaling a broader reshuffling of his dating life rather than a committed pursuit of Tammy.

The development is also tied to how the pair navigated a high-profile public moment: the Brownlow Medal count. Bailey attended the event solo, with Tammy not serving as his date, and he later publicly addressed the status of their relationship in a radio interview. During a chat with KIIS FM’s Kyle and Jackie O Show, he was asked whether Tammy would be joining him that night. He replied, in effect, that they were not a couple and that Tammy was not accompanying him to the Brownlow Medal ceremony. The exchange included a concise, four-word affirmation: “No, we’re just mates.” Earlier, he had framed the relationship as non-exclusive, adding that he did not want to bore her with football talk all night because she isn’t a big footy fan.

The unfolding narrative has kept Tammy Hembrow in the spotlight as well. On Instagram, she posted content related to scuba diving lessons, signaling a shift in focus toward personal interests rather than a high-profile romance. While she has yet to publicly comment on the reports of the fizzled romance, those close to both stars emphasize that the situation remains fluid and that both parties are navigating the media attention with their own boundaries in mind.

The broader reaction to the episode reflects ongoing attention on the dating lives of athletes and influencers in Australia, where high-profile relationships are frequently parsed for clues about future public appearances, endorsements, and personal branding. For now, the two remain apart in the public eye, with insiders noting that Smith appears to be prioritizing a lower-key dating life and Tammy pursuing personal pursuits that keep her in the spotlight for reasons other than a romance.