Famed football pundit Mark Robinson is branded a “polarising figure” who is “unloved” by many in the AFL world after his shock retirement aged just 57.

Leading AFL pundit Mark Robinson has received a lukewarm tribute calling him a “polarizing figure” who is hated by sections of the football world just after announcing he would retire at the age of 57.

Known to fans, players and the rest of the AFL community as 'Robbo', the celebrated and outspoken reporter and commentator has brought to a close a storied career that spanned almost four decades.

Tributes have been paid to the Herald Sun's chief football writer, who, according to colleague Scott Gullan, “wore his heart on his sleeve” and “has an incredible ability to get people talking often about the most uncomfortable topics”.

Another of Robinson's fellow football writers, Jon Ralph, called him “a brilliant journalist who is not afraid to tackle the biggest issues in the game through Covid, the Hawks racist drama and the Dons saga (the Robinson drug scandal). Essendon). He rarely if ever took a step back.

But 3AW radio host Matt Grantland took a different tack when he told his listeners about Robinson's decision on Thursday.

“He's a polarizing figure, there's no doubt about that,” Grantland said.

Mark Robinson's skills as a journalist and football pundit have been praised in a series of tributes after he announced his retirement on Thursday.

But a former colleague of his remembered him as a hard-hitting journalist who threw people off their game with his “strong opinions.”

“A lot of people love it, some don't love it at all, but that's what happens when you have strong opinions about things.

'I have been lucky enough to work with Robbo for a number of years, first at SEN and then here at 3AW. I always found him honest and genuine, and when you work in an industry like this, a lot of people ask, “What is this person like?” …and with Robbo, what you see is what you get.'

Robinson leaves the spotlight as one of Australia's top sports reporters after taking over as chief football reporter in 2012, replacing the legendary Mike Sheahan.

He covered some of the biggest stories in sport, from Wayne Carey's departure at North Melbourne to the Essendon supplements saga, but his exit from his high-profile role on Fox Sports' AFL360 program appeared to have been unceremonious.

Last October, Robinson did not appear on AFL360's final show, with co-host Gerard Whateley announcing his former co-host would not be returning.

Robinson, known for his dry sense of humor and exceptional interviewing skills, would later break his silence on the matter.

Last year, Robinson (pictured with co-host Gerard Whateley) failed to appear on Fox's AFL360 in October last year when he found out he had been booted from the show.

'Wow, what can I say? I enjoyed it for 14 years, it was great and I loved it. (It) changed my life,' he told RSN's Breakfast with Harf.

'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.

'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.