Famous footy pundit Mark Robinson is branded a ‘polarising figure’ who is ‘not loved’ by many in the AFL world after his shock retirement aged just 57
- ‘Robbo’ made a surprising announcement on Thursday
- Received a surprising tribute on the radio afterwards
Top AFL pundit Mark Robinson received a lukewarm tribute calling him a “polarizing figure” hated by parts of the football world, just after he announced he is retiring at the age of 57.
Known to fans, players and the rest of the AFL community as ‘Robbo’, the celebrated and outspoken reporter and commentator has called time on a storied career spanning nearly four decades.
Tributes have been paid to the Herald Sun’s leading football writer, who, according to colleague Scott Gullan, ‘wore his heart on his sleeve’ and has ‘an incredible ability to often get people talking about the most uncomfortable topics’.
Another of Robinson’s fellow footballers, Jon Ralph, called him “a brilliant journalist who isn’t afraid to tackle the game’s biggest topics through Covid, the Hawks racism drama and the Dons saga.” [Essendon drugs scandal]. Rarely, if ever, taken a step backward. Will be greatly missed.”
But 3AW radio host Matt Grantland took a different tack when he told his listeners about Robinson’s decision on Thursday.
“He’s a polarizing figure, there’s no doubt about that,” Grantland said.
Mark Robinson’s skills as a journalist and football pundit have been praised in a series of tributes after he announced his retirement on Thursday
But a former colleague of his remembered him as a tough reporter who sidelined people with his “strong opinions.”
“A lot of people love him, some don’t love him at all, but that’s what happens when you have strong opinions about things.
‘I have been fortunate to work with Robbo for a number of years, first at SEN and then here at 3AW. I’ve always found him honest and sincere, and when you work in an industry like this, a lot of people will say, “What’s this person like?” … and with Robbo: what you see is what you get.’
Robinson leaves the spotlight as one of Australia’s top sports reporters after taking on the role of chief football reporter in 2012, taking over from the legendary Mike Sheahan.
He covered some of the biggest stories in sport, from Wayne Carey’s departure from North Melbourne to the Essendon supplements saga, but his departure from his high-profile role on Fox Sports show AFL360 appears to have been unceremonious.
Last October, Robinson did not appear for one final AFL360 show, with his co-host Gerard Whateley announcing his long-standing co-host would not be returning.
Robinson, known for his dry sense of humor and exceptional interviewing skills, would later break his silence on the matter.
Last year, Robinson (pictured with co-host Gerard Whateley) was absent from Fox’s AFL360 in October last year when he learned he had been dropped from the programme.
‘Wow, what can I say? I enjoyed it for fourteen years, it was great and I loved it. [It] changed my life,” he told RSN’s Breakfast with Harf.
‘But last week it was decided that I was no longer needed for this show.
‘I was told last Tuesday by Steve Crawley [Fox Sports head of television] that changes would be made, and unfortunately I am the change.
‘It was actually quite tough doing the shows last week.
‘Not that I was depressed or anything; I thought I would say or act in a way that I would regret. A sign of maturity. I just said, “I’m not coming in.” Yes, I didn’t go in.’