‘Why has no one snagged this guy?‘: Melbourne housemates’ quest to find their single mate a wife

Dating app fatigue has reached a tipping point for Gen Z and Millennial singles, with roughly 79 per cent reporting severe burnout from endless swiping, small talk and superficial connections.

But as younger generations across the dating pool splash towards the exit ladder in droves, there are some who persist – while opting for slightly less conventional methods to find their match.

Nearly half of all Australians aged 18 to 49 use or have used online dating apps, according to the 2023 Choosi Swipe Right Modern Dating Report.

Over the course of the past decade, they’ve slowly but surely emerged as singles’ go-to method to meet potential partners, accounting for roughly 39 per cent of all new romantic connections formed.

But Melbourne-based duo Bella Dunkinson and Anastasia Monaghan, both 27, are two marketing professionals flouting this standardised format in 2026 – and their innovative approach on their friend’s behalf is gaining traction online.

Fellow housemate and co-worker Tom Davies, 30, is the willing guinea pig; the subject of a new Tiktok series outlining “reasons you should date our housemate.”

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The series, which details the positive qualities he would bring to a relationship, quickly went viral, as spades of single women descended upon the trio’s DMs in the hopes of snagging a date.

“We’ve known Tom for around four or five years, and we’ve always known he’s the best,” Anastasia told Nine.com.au of their decision to pitch Tom to the masses.

But it was only after the trio decided to transition from co-workers to housemates that Tom’s green flags truly shone through.

“He started doing all these really nice things for us and we didn’t even have to ask ... We were just like, why has no one snagged this guy up?”

It was then that the pair made the executive decision to “tell the whole world” about Tom.

“We are finding Tom a wife,” Anastasia confidently stated.

Also speaking to Nine.com.au, Tom revealed he’d been single for the last two-and-a-half years before his housemates intervened.

“Living with two girls, I’m obviously talking about my dating life, and they were like ‘Why don’t we just help you out with this?’ – and I just thought, why not?”

He revealed he’d been swayed by a number of similar videos from overseas that had seen viral success in the past, and had decided to give it a go.

This decision was also spurred on by an aversion to dating apps, with Tom revealing he’d prefer to find a partner in the wild.

“Historically, any time I’ve been in a relationship I’ve always met that person organically. That’s been what’s worked for me in the past,” he recalled.

Though he admitted he’d “been on the apps” previously, that approach hadn’t yielded the kind of spark or connection he’d been searching for.

“There’s so little you can find out about someone through the apps, but this is a fun, engaging way that you see a bit of their personality right off the bat.”

“I think the response [from girls] says a lot about the current dating landscape,” Anastasia added.

“The overwhelming reaction shows how attractive [Tom’s] qualities are... The response suggests those traits can feel surprisingly rare in modern dating.”

The trio’s dating series reflects a wider trend of friends pitching their single mates to potential partners, with a growing number engaging in pub or PowerPoint singles nights in an attempt to finally find ‘the one’.

Formats such as Sydney’s ‘Date My Mate’ and ‘Cupid’s Court’ live dating events are steadily growing in popularity, as younger generations break from the norm to give in-person connection the old college try.

Aptly described as “matchmaking meets karaoke meets a really good night out,” Date My Mate’s premise involves two friends, a pitch deck, a room packed with fellow singles and a roaring good time.

Cupid’s Court, on the other hand, presents a more interactive framework, where three suitors vie for the affections of one featured single in front of a packed pub.

The event, which utilises the audience to help decide on the lucky winner (who then earns themselves a date), frequently sells out.

And the roaring demand may be indicative of younger generations’ exodus from the apps.

A recent report based on two online polls covering nearly 1,400 respondents in various age groups by the Social Health Foundation found 46 per cent believed online dating “increased how lonely they felt.”

In-person formats are a direct response to this, presenting a much-needed environment for singles to mix and mingle face-to-face.

Recent Cupid’s Court participant Gemma Kay, 28, revealed she’d given the show a go because online dating had become “a slog.”

“It’s no secret many singles are bored and fatigued by dating apps right now,” she told Nine.com.au.

“Between the apps shifting towards heavy monetisation and a general shift in dating culture, finding alignment has become an absolute slog.”

“That’s why alternative dating events are so refreshing – they take the ‘homework’ and serious pressure out of it.”

Although Gemma didn’t find her perfect match that night, she said she ultimately had “no regrets,” over participating.

According to her, even if the night doesn’t end with romantic connection, it still results in “making memories, rather than sitting at home and swiping.”

“It brings the fun back into meeting people, with the bonus that you might just meet your match.”

So if the apps aren’t working and you, much like RAYE, are wondering where the hell your husband is, fear not; it may just be the case that his friends are yet to pitch him in a public forum.