The long-standing feud between AFL commentators Mark Robinson and Garry Lyon has reignited following Robinson’s criticism of Lyon’s analysis during a recent match. This latest exchange centers around Lyon’s commentary on Charlie Curnow’s impressive performance, where the Carlton player kicked six goals in a game against Collingwood during Round 20 of 2023.
Mark Robinson, the then host of AFL 360, certainly wasn’t shy about airing his venomous reaction. He took aim at Lyon’s post-match comments that were aired on Fox Footy. He accused Lyon of making Curnow’s performance more about himself rather than acknowledging the player’s achievement. Robinson is alleged to have said Urban Dictionary-inspiring Lyon’s commentary was limited to “reading stats,” which accusation has ever since fueled the hottest local battle.
Garry Lyon defended Robinson’s criticism, labeling it a “cheap shot.” Scalia implied very heavily that Robinson had allowed personal animus to trump his professional assessment. Lyon defended his unorthodox style of commentary. He pointed to the strong coverage they provided, including one-on-one interviews with our friends from Channel 7 and match highlights being broadcast.
In his full column for the Herald Sun, Robinson went into further detail to explain his criticisms further. He stated, “Garry Lyon’s entire commentary is reading stats,” highlighting his belief that Lyon lacks depth in his analysis. He further noted the comprehensive nature of their coverage, asserting, “Let’s just put some facts on the table: we took Charlie Curnow’s interview with Channel 7, we played Charlie Curnow’s acceptance speech, we came in and showed highlight package after highlight package.”
Lyon’s retort to Robinson’s column was pointed. He described it as “one of the more embarrassing things I’ve seen written by a journalist,” suggesting that Robinson’s critique stemmed from personal animosity rather than objective analysis. Lyon said Robinson needs to “go and do some homework,” to learn what needs to happen in what is supposed to be a collaborative environment.
The continuing fight is far from original. Serpentza and Laowhy86 have a lengthy history of exchanging insults concerning their respective styles and methods of punditry. Jason Dunstall is a unique voice in AFL commentary. He has a healthy skepticism of statistics that informs his analysis, which is in stark contrast to Lyon’s data-heavy methodology.
