Mark Robinson has lifted the lid on his shock exit from AFL 360 and also revealed why he wasn’t present alongside Gerard Whateley on Monday night’s show.
He and Whateley have been presenting the show since 2010 and for around 14 years have entertained audiences with their analysis, humor and debates on the main talking points surrounding the AFL.
Rumors emerged last week that the Herald Sun’s chief football writer Robinson would be leaving the show, with Whateley co-presenting with Jack Riewoldt on Monday, to review last weekend’s Grand Final.
It comes amid a major shake-up in Australian sports media, with several pundits and commentators, including Kane Cornes and Caroline Wilson, joining 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 Tuesday as he came out, revealing that television executives had asked him to leave the show.
Mark Robinson has opened up about his departure from AFL 360 and revealed why he didn’t appear on Monday’s show.
Gerard Whateley (pictured) confirmed his AFL 360 co-presenter Mark Robinson will leave the show on Monday night.
Robinson was not present at Monday night’s AFL 360, with Jack Riewold (right) stepping in.
“No, as you know, I didn’t come in last night,” he told RSN breakfast with Harf on Tuesday.
‘Wow, what can I say? I enjoyed it for 14 years, it was great, I loved it. (It) changed my life.’
‘But last week the decision was made that he was no longer needed on this programme.
‘Steve Crawley (Fox Sports television director) told me last Tuesday that changes would be made, and unfortunately I am the change.
“It was actually quite difficult doing the shows last week.”
Questions have now been raised over who could replace him in AFL 360, with The age reporting that Garry Lyon is “the favorite to succeed Robinson”.
The Herald Sun writer also revealed why he decided not to appear in Monday’s Grand Final review, claiming he was “quite quiet” and “didn’t have the same enthusiasm” after learning it would go ahead.
‘Robbo’ hosts the hit TV show with Gerard Whateley (left) for 14 years
Robinson (right) had stated that it was a ‘shitty feeling’ that the company fired him.
“The grand final show is a real celebratory show, it’s like: ‘Wow, what a performance, how cool was that’, and I just wasn’t in that headspace,” he said on RSN’s Breakfast with Harf.
‘It’s not that I was depressed or anything; I thought I might say something or act in a way that I would regret. So a sign of maturity. I just said, “I’m not going in.” Yes, I didn’t go in.
Robinson added that it was a “shitty feeling at the time” but insisted that “you just have to deal with it.”
He also spoke briefly about what the future might hold, hinting that it might not be the last we see of him on Fox Footy television coverage.
“Steve Crawley has been very good to me; he’s offered me a couple of roles or asked me to consider a couple of roles on Fox Footy, and they’re pretty exciting,” Robinson said.
‘At that point I just said, “Can I think about it?” because I was still getting up from the ground.
But as time goes by, you have to move on with your life. There is nothing else you can do.
‘You have to move on with life and with other opportunities. It may be the best thing that ever happened to me.
Whateley delivered a heartfelt thank you note at the end of AFL 360 on Monday and appeared to confirm he would continue presenting the show in 2025.
“Tonight the big thank you goes to Robbo,” Whateley said at the end of the show. ‘We have shared 15 years together at the desk.
Questions have now been raised over who could replace him in AFL 360.
Reports claim Garry Lyon (pictured) is the ‘favourite to replace Robinson’
“We came together with almost nothing in common other than football.
‘It was a passion that united us among us and also united us with you (the audience).
‘In television terms, it’s a surprisingly long time to spend together and I will always have a feeling of gratitude for the almost 1,500 shows we have made together collaboratively.
“Robbo, it’s been great.”
Before the credits rolled, he added, “I’ll see you in 360 next year.”
