Should Robbo be sacked by HUN for silly tweets

[bornadog]

Robbo has apologised for intensive tweet about Alex Fasolo which he then promptly deleted:


‘Good drugs – clinical depression on Tuesday, training Thursday’.

He is not fit to be the Chief Football writer for the HUN and I don't get how he gets a gig on AFL360. Whtever you thought of Mike Sheahan, at least he was professional in carrying out his job.

Slobbo didn't forget Alex for re tweeting this:


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DBMmeYoVwAATBZi.jpg

[GVGjr]

I was listening to this on the way home. It would appear he has apologized.

Ive never been a fan of his and I try to avoid listening too him and I also can't understand why he's on the TV, radio and the print media but surely he shouldn't be sacked for what he has tweeted?

To me it shows a lack of class and lot of ignorance and someone who is crying out for a big does of reality.

He has the Herald Sun in his twitter handle and they should make him retract it tomorrow. At the very least he needs to make a strong apology.

[westdog54]

GVG used the right word. Classless act from a classless bloke.

Should donate a month's salary to BeyondBlue while he's at it.

[comrade]

His apology was kind of half assed, too. Said he used the 'wrong words'.

A) what were the right words?
B) he's a so called professional writer, you can't use 'wrong words' as an excuse

Putting aside his ignorance, classlessness etc, the guy should get the sack for just being terrible at his various jobs. He's a goon that somehow fell into a position of influence.

[bornadog]

Trouble is this is not the first time. He has fights with people on Twitter and really tweets ridiculous things. When you challenge him, he blocks you.

The Chief Football write should be better than this.

[bulldogtragic]

It's actually pretty poor for all those who do and will suffer from a degree of mental illness. Psychiatrists often use many situational and exposure therapies/techniques. Some people need to stay home, some maybe need to escape for a while surfing, having coffee out of the house or going back to work. What this comment does is cast doubt on sick folks and their treating doctors. So when Joe Bloggs is off on stress leave and a colleague sees Joe going to the footy on the weekend, the colleague can go back to work and say 'Joe isn't mentally unwell because I saw him at the footy' and 'Mentally unwell people are only legit if they stay home and hide in their cupboard'. Robbo legitimises this shit that many of us face day to day, and fuels the ignorant masses who have this bias.

I'm lucky (in a perverse sense) that I was retired with serious physical injury as well as PTSD. People understand physical injuries and have an immediate sense of support, while depression/PTSD etc is usually met with some level of ignorance and sometimes open scepticism about whether mental illness is real. It's a part of why blokes/coppers I once knew have killed themselves, and why coppers, emergency services and armed services personnel are killing themselves at an abhorrent rate. Robbo thinks he's having a dig at a bloke who re-tweeted him a while back, but with his microphone and reach he's strengthening poor cultures and poor values that treat mental illness suffers with such distain that they may not get the help they need, or feel the stigma even more. It doesn't do any good to think about the flow on consequences of what that means in human terms. An apology does nothing, the horse has bolted, ask Kathy Griffin being sacked from everyone today. It seems those employers have a higher standard than Robbo's employers.

[jeemak]

GVG used the right word. Classless act from a classless bloke.

Should donate a month's salary to BeyondBlue while he's at it.

Donating is the celebrity cop-out that substitutes cash foregone for actually learning and using influence to change negative public perceptions.

Robbo should go and educate himself, and use his influence to positively impact the conversation.

[AndrewP6]

I actually don't mind him USUALLY but this is too much. He says he used the wrong words - there are no right words if you imply someone's mental illness isn't genuine. Shows a complete lack of understanding. Dirty, dirty act.

[Remi Moses]

He's just proving he has no class , once again .

[Topdog]

I'm lucky (in a perverse sense) that I was retired with serious physical injury as well as PTSD. People understand physical injuries and have an immediate sense of support, while depression/PTSD etc is usually met with some level of ignorance and sometimes open scepticism about whether mental illness is real. It's a part of why blokes/coppers I once knew have killed themselves, and why coppers, emergency services and armed services personnel are killing themselves at an abhorrent rate. Robbo thinks he's having a dig at a bloke who re-tweeted him a while back, but with his microphone and reach he's strengthening poor cultures and poor values that treat mental illness suffers with such distain that they may not get the help they need, or feel the stigma even more. It doesn't do any good to think about the flow on consequences of what that means in human terms. An apology does nothing, the horse has bolted, ask Kathy Griffin being sacked from everyone today. It seems those employers have a higher standard than Robbo's employers.

Listened to a talk from an ex cop at Sons of the West tonight as he spoke about his battles with mental illness and a lot of what you say was very similar. It is very hard to understand for those that don't go through it but to make a joke of it when you are in a job as a Chief Football writer? Come on.

I will openly say I dislike the man but that has nothing to do with my feeling that he should absolutely be sacked.

[GVGjr]

I will openly say I dislike the man but that has nothing to do with my feeling that he should absolutely be sacked.


Wayne Schwass talked about this battles with depression and how the club doctor showed him how football could help him with get into a good routine and I think this hit home with Robbo. At least it appeared to.

I'm not inclined to support him but I believe he needs education on the various forms of depression and of course a large dose of humility and even though like you I don't really like him I still don't think sacking him is the answer. His employer does need to stand up here though.

I don't profess to have a great understanding of how depression can take a hold of someone and perhaps through Robbo's insensitivity it might help others like me to try and gain a better understanding.

Just listening to the comments by Wayne Schwass and then reading of BT's own experience has raised my awareness.

[bulldogtragic]

I have a genuine concern that with this, young men and women in the AFL industry struggling with stress/anxiety/depression that impacts their health will not come forward now because the chief footy writer of the Hun may just rip you down & to shreds in the public domain in a time of their vulnerability. I'd almost say that's certainly going to be the case now, and I hope our clubs support structures can be even more proactive now for anyone not feeling comfortable to ask help for fear of public derision by the biggest & loudest footy chief in the industry (be it mental illness, gambling, alcohol or substance use, or other concerns).

If the Hun's chief political editor wrote about the Police Minister who went on/is on stress leave for PTSD from exposure to the horrible things he saw; 'clinical depression Monday, seen in party room Thursday. Great meds'... I dare say that chief of politics at the Hun would be sacked, distance put between them and then never get a job in media ever again. It's so irresponsible it beggars belief.

It's such a step backwards from the great work that organisations are doing. It's potentially dangerous if players/coaches/officials won't seek help because of fear of this type reaction in the public domain. He has to personally wear the consequences if his actions cause any degree of unnecessary human misery. But I'm pretty sure he doesn't get it from his attempted apology, so he won't lose sleep if/when players are suffering in silence again. He won't lose his job, that's not what the footy industry does. He could however shut up and not undo the great work being done with AFL players to get them to see the signs and then to seek help, without fear, judgement or public reticule.

[Topdog]

I'm not inclined to support him but I believe he needs education on the various forms of depression and of course a large dose of humility and even though like you I don't really like him I still don't think sacking him is the answer. His employer does need to stand up here though.

If he were just a journo I would say he doesn't need to be sacked but he is the chief football writer. With that position comes responsibility and for that he should be at least demoted.


I don't profess to have a great understanding of how depression can take a hold of someone and perhaps through Robbo's insensitivity it might help others like me to try and gain a better understanding.

Me neither and to be honest before hearing the guy from Beyond Blue talk about his issues and how he felt at the time I didn't really think sacking would have been required. But listening to him talk and he mentioned quite specifically about how isolated he felt and that one of his biggest fears was to be seen as weak and ridiculed by his fellow members in the force and that stopped him from owning up to his issues it really hit home.

[The Pie Man]

It's actually pretty poor for all those who do and will suffer from a degree of mental illness. Psychiatrists often use many situational and exposure therapies/techniques. Some people need to stay home, some maybe need to escape for a while surfing, having coffee out of the house or going back to work. What this comment does is cast doubt on sick folks and their treating doctors. So when Joe Bloggs is off on stress leave and a colleague sees Joe going to the footy on the weekend, the colleague can go back to work and say 'Joe isn't mentally unwell because I saw him at the footy' and 'Mentally unwell people are only legit if they stay home and hide in their cupboard'. Robbo legitimises this shit that many of us face day to day, and fuels the ignorant masses who have this bias.

I'm lucky (in a perverse sense) that I was retired with serious physical injury as well as PTSD. People understand physical injuries and have an immediate sense of support, while depression/PTSD etc is usually met with some level of ignorance and sometimes open scepticism about whether mental illness is real. It's a part of why blokes/coppers I once knew have killed themselves, and why coppers, emergency services and armed services personnel are killing themselves at an abhorrent rate. Robbo thinks he's having a dig at a bloke who re-tweeted him a while back, but with his microphone and reach he's strengthening poor cultures and poor values that treat mental illness suffers with such distain that they may not get the help they need, or feel the stigma even more. It doesn't do any good to think about the flow on consequences of what that means in human terms. An apology does nothing, the horse has bolted, ask Kathy Griffin being sacked from everyone today. It seems those employers have a higher standard than Robbo's employers.

Media standards could be debated endlessly, but it does seem that US standards are a lot higher - e.g I believe Eddie McGuire would've lost a similar position if based in the US for any number of his gaffes. Seems those standards drop alarmingly for higher office, but anyway...

I suspect many here will share my opinion on Robinson - he's a better writer than I could be, but I genuinely believe there's at least 5 or more posters on this site that would be better. Is it the emotive common man shtick that gets him a role on 360?

Should he be sacked? I wonder if it came up behind closed doors - my hope would be that this could lead to a greater understanding of the issues some (specifically footballers in this instance) face. I'm not one to want to give him credit, but he has seemed genuine in his remorse, and that's important to me at least. I understand if it's not to others.

I've suffered some anxiety issues over the past few years, and it is incredibly difficult to try and explain what's going on to anyone. Attitudes like the one Mark tweeted aren't helpful, but I'd like to think he's going to take the opportunity to try and learn and understand and maybe even help moving forward. I get the sense he wants to be that kind of person, but keeps tripping over himself (like the article about Erin Phillips and her partner at the AFLW B & F)

[Topdog]

How many mistakes does he get to make? He is a classless moron to be honest and this isn't the first and I'm sure won't be the last time that he puts his foot in it on sensitive issues. As the chief football writer he is supposed to be leading the way, not still in a learning phase.

[Twodogs]

Donating is the celebrity cop-out that substitutes cash foregone for actually learning and using influence to change negative public perceptions.

Robbo should go and educate himself, and use his influence to positively impact the conversation.

That was my first thought too. Educate himself and try and understand what he is talking about. He is in a position where he could do some good.

Other than that I can't see what it is he provides that warrants appearence son TV and radio and the paper either but it must be something.

[Sedat]

Footy scribes are the lowest form of human existence - they leech onto the real stars of the show and try to make themselves bigger than the game itself. That misplaced expectation of importance is what makes this week so good to see - Robbo's high media profile has turned on him on the best way possible, and he has nobody but himself to blame.

Goes without saying what an ill-informed and ignorant tweet it was in relation to a very serious community issue that touches so many people. His apology was half-arsed and qualified - "wrong choice of words" :rolleyes: - and in any event he is supposed to be a journalist (hard to believe I know), a profession that requires an innate knowledge of the use of words and their power. By even writing the tweet let alone pressing send, it proves that he is incapable of a basic level of expected competence fit to be a journalist. If he gets the arse, I would not care one iota - he is not bigger than the game. He and his ilk are parasites who attach themselves to the game and the players for the sole purpose of raising their own profile - this week hopefully shows these scumbags that nobody barracks for them and that they are barely tolerated by the footy public.

The less we hear of Robbo, Ralphy, Purple, Scoop McLure, Caro, Hutchy, Pickers and any other low rent scribes, the better.

[jeemak]

Some sports journos are pretty good, it's usually the ones who just analyse objectively and with some depth.

By the way, you can add that one man creep show Bruce to your list Sedat. His fawning and nicknaming is really weird, and overbearing. I just don't understand who it appeals to.

[GVGjr]

I have a genuine concern that with this, young men and women in the AFL industry struggling with stress/anxiety/depression that impacts their health will not come forward now because the chief footy writer of the Hun may just rip you down & to shreds in the public domain in a time of their vulnerability. I'd almost say that's certainly going to be the case now, and I hope our clubs support structures can be even more proactive now for anyone not feeling comfortable to ask help for fear of public derision by the biggest & loudest footy chief in the industry (be it mental illness, gambling, alcohol or substance use, or other concerns).



BT, given your understanding about the varying levels of depression I think you're probably best placed to answer, or at least shed some light on, a question I asked when Ryan Griffen departed our club. Emotions were obviously running very high but at the time I mentioned that he was exhibiting symptoms that he wasn't coping with the demands of being a captain and with the spot light on him he wanted out of a club that had been pretty good to him. My guess is he would have stood out of football if a trade wasn't arranged. It's probably a very hard question to answer but could his decision to put distance between himself and a difficult and stressful situation potentially be a form of depression that we didn't really understand at the time?

I think I have a decent understanding of stress and anxiety but I'll be the first to admit I have a long way to go in understanding how depression can get a hold of someone particularly in a sporting sense.

[bulldogtragic]

BT, given your understanding about the varying levels of depression I think you're probably best placed to answer, or at least shed some light on, a question I asked when Ryan Griffen departed our club. Emotions were obviously running very high but at the time I mentioned that he was exhibiting symptoms that he wasn't coping with the demands of being a captain and with the spot light on him he wanted out of a club that had been pretty good to him. My guess is he would have stood out of football if a trade wasn't arranged. It's probably a very hard question to answer but could his decision to put distance between himself and a difficult and stressful situation potentially be a form of depression that we didn't really understand at the time?

I think I have a decent understanding of stress and anxiety but I'll be the first to admit I have a long way to go in understanding how depression can get a hold of someone particularly in a sporting sense.

Who knows, is my first thought. Depression is a beast that affects many in different ways. Some can function at a high level, others not so. I'm not sure if he used the services of our welfare manager or psych help through our Employee Assitant Program (EAP) or his own doctors. I'd like to think if things were so dire the club or he himself would seen the signs, after the Mitch Clarke situation, and put his welfare at the top of the agenda. The problem I have with the Gryphone thing is:

- he had a sit down, heart to heart with Garlick and co after the season and at the conclusion of the meeting RG said to all that all was good with him. So he went on holiday.
- then on holiday he speaks with Leon Cameron (allegedly for the first time that year according to LC)
- then RG phones in that he wants out, but not just out, to GWS and GWS only
- then his manager didn't help facilitate a quick trade, or have RG take one cent less, if a quick move was best for him that should've happened

That's not to say anything, because I don't the guy or what was going on in his thought process. But the details of that situation that have been publicly established create a lot of doubt to me as to what was going on, and the truthfulness and sincerity of many people. I'm unaware of any comment from LC or RG or anyone at our club that suggested RGs desire to quit the club was for a different reason from the reasons cited by Higgins, Cooney, Jones or Tutt (or Lake the year before). Its also clear he/his manager didn't pressure GWS to make a quick trade (happened in reverse in the McCarthy situation - would make GWS the biggest hypocritical villains if they were trying to help RG out with mental illness and then do nothing to help McCarthy), or offer to take a pay cut from the Dogs contract to facilitate a quick move or ensure the trade went through. RG picked a club, held out, demanded money he wasn't entitled to. Only he knows why I guess.

[hujsh]

Educate Robbo all you like on depression. I'm sure he'll find another issue to make himself look like a dickhead.

[bornadog]

Slobbo on AFL 360, apologising, pretending he is remorseful, and pleading to his critics. It just seems so fake.

[Twodogs]

Slobbo on AFL 360, apologising, pretending he is remorseful, and pleading to his critics. It just seems so fake.

He probably got told he was pleading for his job. Lots of people battle mental illness or have loved ones who do. Maybe Robbo's boss at Fox is one of them.

[GVGjr]

Slobbo on AFL 360, apologising, pretending he is remorseful, and pleading to his critics. It just seems so fake.


For what it's worth it did not strike me as fake. He's a slow learner.

[Sedat]

The victim mentality narrative he's pedalling over the treatment he's received from other scribes with an axe to grind is quite pathetic. He never hesitated sinking the boots into others when the shoe was on the other foot, and now he is on the receiving end as a result of his own stupidity he cannot comprehend how little the footy public regards him.

Pissweak.

[bornadog]

Not a tweet, but I read it on twitter, apparently Robbo on AFL360 - can anyone confirm

"Western Bulldogs, no one cares about the tragedies in your club, just win"

This man is a low life.

[Grantysghost]

Not a tweet, but I read it on twitter, apparently Robbo on AFL360 - can anyone confirm

"Western Bulldogs, no one cares about the tragedies in your club, just win"

This man is a low life.

Surely not.

[jeemak]

Jesus you'd have to be super maggot pissed and jaded after blowing some dough to put something like that to air.

[Ghost Dog]

What a bully. Basically.

More to be pitied than despised. When he retires, who will remember him the day after?
He knows less about footy than me. And I don't know that much at all.

[MrMahatma]

Not a tweet, but I read it on twitter, apparently Robbo on AFL360 - can anyone confirm

"Western Bulldogs, no one cares about the tragedies in your club, just win"

This man is a low life.

He kind of did. Not the exact words and I watched it and while I thought it sounded a bit off, I’m not sure he intended it that way. He meant “footy is tough, and there are lots of things that get in the way of you performing and winning, but in the end, all that matters is the result”.