Mark Robinson lifts the lid on his shock AFL 360 exit as legendary host is axed by Fox Sports as he reveals why he was absent from Monday’s show

Mark Robinson has lifted the lid on his shock departure from AFL 360 and also revealed why he was not present alongside Gerard Whateley on Monday night’s programme.

He and Whateley have been presenting the show since 2010 and have been entertaining audiences for some 14 years with their analysis, humor and discussions on the key talking points from across the AFL.

Rumors had emerged last week that the Herald Sun’s chief football writer Robinson would be leaving the show, while Whateley would be co-anchored by Jack Riewoldt on Monday to discuss last weekend’s grand final.

It comes amid a huge shake-up in Australian sports media, with several pundits and commentators including Kane Cornes and Caroline Wilson moving to new broadcasters.

Whateley confirmed at the end of Monday’s broadcast that his 56-year-old co-host had left the show, before thanking Robinson in an emotional tribute.

Robinson, known for his dry sense of humor and world-class interviewing skills, broke his silence on his departure on Tuesday, revealing that TV executives had asked him to leave the show.

“No, as you know I didn’t go in last night,” he countered RSN’s breakfast with Harf on Tuesday.

‘Wow, what can I say? I enjoyed it for fourteen years, it was great, I loved it. [It] changed my life.’

‘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.”

Questions have now been raised about who could replace him on AFL 360 The era report that Garry Lyon is ‘the frontrunner to succeed Robinson’.

The Herald Sun writer also revealed why he chose not to appear in Monday’s Grand Final review, claiming he was ‘pretty quiet’ and ‘didn’t have the same buzz’ after hearing he would be moving on.

“The big end show is a real party show, it’s like, ‘Wow, what a performance, how great was that,’ and I just wasn’t in that head space,” he told RSN’s Breakfast with Harf.

‘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.’

Robinson added that it was a ‘c****y feeling’ at the time, but insisted ‘you just have to deal with it’.

He also spoke briefly about what the future could bring, hinting that it might not be the last time we see him on Fox Footy television.

“Steve Crawley, he’s been really good to me – he’s offered me a few roles or asked me to consider a few roles at Fox Footy, and they’re exciting enough,” Robinson said.

“I just said, ‘Can I think about it?’ because I was still picking myself up off the floor.

“But as time goes by, you just have to get on with life. There’s nothing else you can do.

“You have to move on with life and other opportunities. It might be the best thing that happened to me.’

Whateley had delivered a heartfelt message of thanks at the end of AFL 360 on Monday, seemingly confirming he would continue to present the show in 2025.

“Tonight our big thanks go to Robbo,” Whateley said at the end of the show. ‘We worked at the agency together for fifteen years.

‘We were brought together and had almost nothing in common, except football.

‘It was a passion that connected us and also connected us to you [the audience].

“In television terms, it’s an astonishingly long time to spend together and I will always have a sense of gratitude for the almost 1,500 shows we did together.

“Robbo, it was great.”

Before the credits rolled, he added, “I’ll see you next year for 360.”