Jimmy Bartel looked tense as he was pictured for the first time with his rumoured ‘long-term’ girlfriend Lauren Mand.
The retired AFL player, 35, had a four hour lunch with the blonde at the Manly Greenhouse restaurant in Sydney on Wednesday.
An onlooker claimed the pair were deep in thought with ‘no touching or hand-holding’ during the lengthy lunch.
‘There was no touching or hand-holding’: Jimmy Bartel, 35, looked tense with his ‘new girlfriend’ Lauren Mand in Sydney’s Manly on Wednesday
Serious: The retired AFL star was seen having a ‘serious conversation’ with the blonde during a four hour lunch
‘[Jimmy] looked pretty serious and they weren’t laughing or anything,’ the source added.
‘They were there for a while. He seemed a bit sheepish and was looking around to see if anyone recognised him.’
Lauren wore dark aviator sunglasses and a stylish blazer, while Jimmy kept things casual in a grey long-sleeve top.
All okay? An onlooker claimed ‘there wasn’t a lot of smiling going on’
Out and about: According to another source, it would be easy to assume they weren’t a couple by their lack of physical contact
Four hour lunch: ‘They were sitting down having lunch and talking and had some drinks, quite relaxed. I remember I saw her and thought she was very pretty,’ said the onlooker
Another eyewitness said that the pair ‘didn’t really look like a couple’, but were nonetheless relaxed during the outing.
‘They were sitting down having lunch and talking and had some drinks, quite relaxed. I remember I saw her and thought she was very pretty,’ they said.
‘They looked like friends just having a good day and they got there at around one o’clock and they left about four hours later.’
Jimmy announced his split from wife Nadia Bartel, 34, on August 15, with the couple believed to have split months prior.
The fashion blogger left her shared home with Jimmy in mid-June, and moved in with her parents ‘permanently’ in July.
It’s believed the split had been a long time coming, with a neighbour saying the Bartels had rarely been seen together over the past year.
Over: Jimmy announced his split from wife Nadia Bartel (pictured), 34, on August 15, with the couple believed to have split months prior
Since his split, Jimmy is said to be in a ‘long-term relationship’ with Lauren, who recently moved from Melbourne to London.
The footy legend had flown to London in June for what was ostensibly a holiday to watch the Wimbledon tennis tournament.
Nadia appeared to confirm rumours about her husband’s overseas trip last week when she broke her silence on the split.
‘It’s been a very difficult month for me and the boys,’ Nadia told the Herald Sun.
New girlfriend? Since his split, Jimmy is said to be in a ‘long-term relationship’ with Lauren (pictured), who recently moved from Melbourne to London
‘Although I’m heartbroken, I don’t want to comment specifically on what’s been reported about Jim’s trip to the UK as I don’t think it’s in anyone’s interest.’
Nadia is said to be ‘bracing herself’ for more details of her husband’s private life to be made public in the coming weeks.
Announcing her split for the first time earlier this month, Nadia told the Herald Sun: ‘It’s been a very difficult month for me and the boys.
‘My single focus now is to continue to protect, care and provide for my two beautiful boys as this is a personal matter.’
Announcing her split earlier this month, Nadia told the Herald Sun: ‘It’s been a very difficult month for me and the boys,’ referring to her two sons shared with Jimmy
Jimmy and Nadia first met in 2008 while attending the Melbourne F1 Grand Prix and married in a lavish ceremony on the Bellarine Peninsula in 2014.
They share custody of two sons: three-year-old Aston and 10-month-old Henley.
Putting on a brave face amid the split, Nadia made a defiant return to the spotlight in Melbourne on Wednesday to attend a Women Driving Change event.
Nadia posted snaps of herself at the event and seemed to be inspired, as she captioned one Instagram post: ‘It was great to be part of it. The energy in the room. Women can do it all.’
Children: Jimmy and Nadia share custody of two sons: three-year-old Aston and 10-month-old Henley
Marking her return: Putting on a brave face amid the split, Nadia made a defiant return to the spotlight in Melbourne on Wednesday to attend a Women Driving Change event
Her return to the public eye saw her fellow WAGS rally around Nadia, as they publicly threw their support behind their close pal.
Postcards presenter Rebecca Judd was one of the first to offer her congratulations, who posted a ‘100’ sign and a love heart kiss emoji under Nadia’s snap.
Jessie Murphy and Erin Holland also gushed over Nadia, who has kept a low profile following her split with Jimmy, with Erin penning in response to Nadia’s post: ‘CAN AND WILL you are incredible girl.’
Empowering: Nadia posted snaps of herself at the event and captioned one Instagram post: ‘It was great to be part of it. The energy in the room. Women can do it all’
Support: Postcards presenter Rebecca Judd (pictured with Nadia) was one of the first to offer her congratulations, who posted a ‘100’ sign and a love heart kiss emoji under Nadia’s snap