- Young player with medical condition attacked by trolls
- Blake Robinson’s photos published in a shocking Facebook group
- He has told Australians he just wants to “play the game I love”
A 20-year-old football player with a rare medical condition that has affected his growth has responded to trolls who attacked him in a shocking Facebook group, saying: “I just want to go out and play football.”
Blake Robinson plays for Karingal Football Netball Club in Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula League, but on three occasions this year he has been secretly photographed and posted to a Facebook group called ‘Midget Watching Australia’.
Robinson only found out about the page when her sister, who also suffers from the disease, discovered that people were trying to photograph her without her permission.
Blake Robinson is sick of being singled out and vilified on a shocking Facebook page, saying: “I just want people to know it hurts.”
Now he is fighting back and has the backing of his football club and teammates as he tries to get Facebook to remove the page.
The football club has even put together a video highlighting the important role he plays in their team, including interviews with Robinson and his teammates.
“It’s difficult,” said Robinson, who noted that he is not a midget and does not “speak for” people with that condition.
“I just want to go out and play football and not have my photos taken and posted in stupid groups – I shouldn’t even exist.”
“I’m just a normal 20-year-old kid who wants to go out and play the sport I love. I don’t play the game any different than anyone else.
“There are people who take pictures and think it’s funny, but to me it’s not funny and I just want people to know that it hurts.”
Club president Sara Burke was shocked by the vilification Robinson has had to face.
The 20-year-old (pictured at a recent match) said: “I just want to go out and play the game I love.”
“It just makes me very sad,” Burke said.
“I just can’t believe people’s ignorance, especially (seeing) that it’s 2024.
“And the fact that he can be on the football field doing what he loves and someone takes a photo of him and posts it on social media, it’s really disappointing.”
Burke told the Herald of the sun that the club is doing everything possible to have the Facebook page removed.
Daily Mail Australia’s search did not turn up the Facebook group, but did reveal a very similar page called ‘Midget spotting Australia’ which has only been active since earlier this month.
“We’ve been working very hard behind the scenes to remove this from Facebook,” Burke said.
Robinson wants Australians to know he’s ‘just another 20-year-old’
‘We’ve been getting everyone in the club to come together to report it and report people who post on it.
“I never looked at it until last week, I think it stopped but started again or someone started a new one.
“His sister has been his biggest supporter, he found out who owns the group, he knows his friends’ friends – it’s been really surprising.”
Robinson wants his detractors to remember that he is a human being, just like them.
“I’m just like you, I’m not different,” he said.
‘I may be short, but I’m a guy over 20… I’m not different, I do everything the same.’
His reaction to the shocking trolling has earned him support online, with the fan of one of Karingal’s rival clubs praising his play and spirit.
“This guy is a real amateur and never evades the topic,” the commenter wrote.
“You played well against us at the weekend mate, don’t let the keyboard warriors get to you.”