Fox Footy commentator walks away in middle of TV network shake-up

One of Australian football’s most iconic broadcast partnerships has officially come to an end after a big secret was spilled early.

Gerard Whateley & Mark Robinson on the new *AFL 360 *set.

One of football’s most iconic broadcast partnerships has officially come to an end.

The Australian first reported veteran AFL commentator Mark Robinson would feature as co-host of Fox Footy’s AFL 360 for the final time on Monday night.

Instead, he was nowhere to be seen as Jack Riewoldt stepped into his chair alongside Gerard
Whateley, who confirmed the news at the end of Monday’s show.

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The chief football writer for The Herald Sun, Robinson had shown no sign in recent broadcasts that his 15-year run as a founding father of the show could be coming to an end.

Yet the news of Robinson’s exit leaked out in the days leading up to the grand final.

Robinson and Whateley, one of TV’s classic odd couples, typically finish the footy year with the annual grand final review special.

Mark Robinson with Gerrard Whateley on last week's Grand Final AFL 360.

Yet on Monday it was left to Whateley and Riewoldt to review the 2024 season before the former closed the show by thanking all those involved in its production, an annual tradition.

This time around, he saved his final comments for the man known as “Robbo”.

“Tonight the big thank you is to Robbo. We’ve shared 15 years at the desk together.

“We were brought together with almost nothing in common other than footy.

“It was passion that bound us to each other and also bound us to you (the audience).

“In television terms it’s an astonishingly long time to spend together and I’ll always have a sense of gratitude to the almost 1500 shows that we’ve done in partnership together.

“Robbo, it’s been grand.

“I’ll see you for 360 next year.”

That last comment may have been intended to demonstrate Whateley won’t be going anywhere, despite rumours about his possible 2025 TV employment.

At times an emotional figure during his time on 360, it’s not yet clear why Robinson opted against one final appearance on the show.

The Brisbane Lions’ premiership triumph marked the end of Robbo’s long stint with the show. (Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

It’s understood no decision has been made on potential replacement options to sit in Robinson’s chair at the desk next year.

Fox Footy has the biggest squad of footy analysts in the game, headlined by legends Garry Lyon, Nathan Buckley, Jason Dunstall and Jonathan Brown.

The network will not be short on candidates and is reportedly considering going into 2025 with a rotating roster of co-hosts to sit alongside Whateley.

James Madden and Sophie Elsworth wrote for The Australian that Lyon is tipped to have a big role in AFL 360 next year while Jack Riewoldt and Jordan Lewis will also come into consideration.

Robinson, meanwhile, may take his talents to Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle, where he would join fellow News Corp footy reporters, including Jay Clark, Lauren Wood, Jon Ralph, Glenn McFarlane and Scott Gullan.

Robinson and Whateley were the partnership that made AFL 360 a dominant force in the competitive footy news program market.

Beginning in 2010 as a once-per-week show during the footy season, AFL 360 expanded to Monday-Thursday broadcasts when moving to Fox Footy in 2012.

Gerard Whateley & Mark Robinson on the Fox Footy set.

Robinson remains a leading football reporter and features regularly on Melbourne radio networks.

Fox Footy may be fighting a battle on two fronts surrounding its flagship show with Whateley also reportedly in the sights of Channel 7.

Seven is in the middle of a full shake-up under new sport boss Chris Jones.

Seven has already pinched Kane Cornes from Channel 9 while Caroline Wilson and Leigh Matthews have also reportedly agreed to move to Seven next year.

Former Fox Footy star Nick Riewoldt is also returning to TV next year with Seven.

It comes as Luke Darcy announced last week he will be leaving the TV network and Triple M radio to focus on personal business interests next year. Veteran Channel 7 news presenter — and Essendon legend — Tim Watson is also set to leave.

According to The Herald Sun, Seven’s recruitment raid is not over with Whateley considered a potential host as Seven beefs up its footy broadcast stable.