Mark Robinson (journalist)
{{Short description|Australian sports journalist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Use Australian English|date=November 2013}}
{{Other people|Mark Robinson|Mark Robinson (disambiguation)}}
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|name = Mark Robinson
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|birth_place = Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
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|employer = News Corp Australia, Fox Footy, 3AW
|occupation = Journalist
|title = Chief football writer
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Mark Robinson is an Australian retired sports journalist.{{cite web |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/about-mark-robinson/story-fni5f0at-1226692169013 |title=Mark Robinson – Man of the people |author= |date=1 February 2013 |website=www.heraldsun.com.au |publisher=News Corp Australia|accessdate=15 August 2014}} He was the chief football writer for Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper from 2011 to 2024. He regularly appeared on the 1116 SEN radio station's pre-match Australian Football League (AFL) discussion and co-hosted Fox Footy's AFL 360 television program till 2024.
Career
A junior footballer for the Sandhurst Dragons in Bendigo and the Horsham Saints in Horsham, Robinson began covering football in 1992. Throughout his career he has predominantly covered Australian rules football and has been the chief football writer for the Herald Sun since 2012 following the retirement of Mike Sheahan.{{cite web |url=http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/mark-robinson-heads-up-your-no1-footy-team-as-herald-sun-leads-the-way-in-afl-coverage/story-fnelctok-1226526117905 |title=Mark Robinson heads up your No.1 footy team as Herald Sun leads the way in AFL coverage |author= |date=29 November 2012 |website=www.news.com.au |publisher=News Corp Australia |accessdate=15 August 2014}}
Robinson co-hosted the AFL 360 television program on Fox Footy from 2010 until his sacking at the end of 2024.{{cite web | url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/fox-footy-commentator-walks-away-in-middle-of-tv-network-shakeup/news-story/92b9a012eaaed8e455dc0f11c68f6ded | title=Fox Footy commentator walks away in middle of TV network shake-up | work=news }} He previously appeared regularly as a panellist on AFL Game Day from the show's launch in 2008 until 2011 when AFL 360 expanded to four nights a week through the AFL season.
Robinson was a panellist on many of the 1116 SEN radio station's shows, including The Run Home and match day AFL discussion until the end of the 2017 season.
In 2018, Robinson joined 3AW as a panellist on the Sunday Sport show alongside Daniel Harford and Jimmy Bartel.
In the latter half of 2021, Robinson experienced multiple cardiac episodes which required medical attention, including open-heart surgery.{{Cite web|date=2021-09-27|title='Coming out the other side': Robbo opens up on 'scary' health battle in heartfelt AFL 360 return|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2021-mark-robinson-returns-to-afl-360-where-has-robbo-been-heart-surgery-herald-sun-chief-footy-writer-health-battle/news-story/22f7babaa9a265fd936d180440aeafd3|access-date=2021-11-04|website=Fox Sports|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2021-11-04|title='I burst into tears': Moment Robbo knew he was 'in trouble'… and a big health fight loomed|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/i-burst-into-tears-moment-robbo-knew-he-was-in-trouble-and-a-fight-for-life-loomed/news-story/4587af0cae91170dc58b0118c743a5c2|access-date=2021-11-04|website=Fox Sports|language=en}}
Controversies and feuds
Robinson has been rumoured to have been involved in a variety of verbal and physical altercations with several fellow journalists, including Damian Barrett,{{cite web |url=http://www.triplem.com.au/melbourne/sport/afl/news/2014/8/damian-barrett-responds-to-a-whack-from-mark-robinson |title=Purple vs. Robbo |accessdate=15 August 2014}} Andy Maher{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfzRJMtdbkE |title=AFL 360 (Mar 6th) – Andy Maher is a wanker |website=YouTube |accessdate=15 August 2014}} and Michael Warner.{{cite web |url=http://www.humanheadline.com.au/Hinch-Says/People-In-Glasshouses |title=People in Glasshouses |accessdate=15 August 2014}}
In June 2017, Robinson tweeted about Collingwood footballer Alex Fasolo when his struggles with severe depression became known, suggesting that the quickness of Fasolo's recovery was an indication he was faking his illness.{{cite web |url=https://www.triplem.com.au/story/mark-robinson-deletes-insensitive-tweet-about-alex-fasolo-35795|title=Mark Robinson Deletes Insensitive Tweet About Alex Fasolo|date=1 June 2017|accessdate=2 July 2020}} He later deleted the tweet and apologised for what he said, with the Collingwood president later saying that Robinson ignored the club's medical advice when contacting Fasolo.{{Cite web |url=https://www.triplem.com.au/story/mark-robinson-deliberately-went-against-medical-recommendations-by-contacting-alex-fasolo-3817|title=Mark Robinson Deliberately Went Against Medical Advice By Contacting Alex Fasolo|access-date=2021-07-24|website=Triple M|language=en}}
Retirement
In January 2025, it was announced in the Herald Sun that Robinson would be leaving from his role as Chief Football Writer 13 years after replacing Mike Sheehan as Chief, and after 4 decades covering journalism.{{Cite web |url= https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/herald-sun-chief-football-writer-mark-robinson-retires-after-legendary-career/news-story/834f3342f317ce61f32fd312c7795497?utm_source=HeraldSun&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Editorial&utm_content=HS_SPORT_BREAKING_01&net_sub_id=285756189&type=curated&position=1|title=Herald Sun Chief Football Writer Mark Robinson retires after legendary career|access-date=2025-01-09|website=T Herald Sun|language=en}}