Carlton forward Mitch Robinson has been caught on footage in a scuffle at the Big Day Out in Flemington.
Mitch Robinson shown in a scuffle at the Big Day Out. Source: Herald Sun
Mitch Robinson held back from someone else in the crowd at the Big Day Out. Source: Herald Sun
CARLTON will force Mitch Robinson to perform community work following an ugly incident at Big Day Out.
Video footage taken by a bystander shows Robinson land a left-hand blow to the other man before he is struck hard to the side of the head as he appears to bend over to pick up an item on the ground.
They then wrestle each other to the ground as others come in to remonstrate and also separate them, including a woman.
Carlton football operations boss Andrew McKay said Robinson should not have put himself in a position to be involved in such an incident.
"This type of behaviour, no matter what the circumstance, is not acceptable or in line with Club policy," McKay said in a statement released today.
"Mitch is extremely remorseful and has accepted the Club's sanction."
Robinson will complete two months of community service with the Salvation Army, working with the homeless and under-privileged in Melbourne's CBD.
He will also make a $1,000 donation to the Salvation Army.
Robinson left the Australia Day music festival off his own accord after the fracas, which ignited when the Blues midfielder tried to prevent his friend's "anti-social behaviour".
Both men have torn singlets when the footage begins, indicating the vision starts well after the fight began, but gets out of control after Robinson is struck while he is not paying attention.
The cowardly blow ignites the fight as a jeer can be heard from the crowd as two other men jump in to the fray as Robinson tries to escape a headlock.
One onlooker can be heard shouting ''That'll be six weeks Robinson'' after he throws the left hook.
Although witnesses who contacted the Herald Sun say they do not know why the fight erupted, they say up to eight men were involved in the melee before it was brought to an end.
One witness said Robinson was ''fuming'' after being ''targeted'' by a group looking for trouble.
''He was fuming, very angry, and was not going to walk away,'' the man said.
''It took his mates to get him to stop.''
But other witnesses were not positive Robinson and the other men were strangers.
The incident occurred after American band The Killers had finished their performance about 8pm.
Dayle, who said the fight started behind him near the Cruiser tent, said Robinson had ''plenty of opportunity to walk away''.
He said it appeared it may have been a fight between Robinson and someone else in his group.
''By the looks of it you would have thought it's been something in their internal group,'' he said.
''They were all pretty big and going at it. I didn't realise it was him (Robinson). He looked like he had plenty of opportunity to walk away from it.''
Carlton Football Club confirmed on Saturday night it was investigating the fight after pictures emerged of the 23-year-old on Twitter being held back by others in the crowd.
No report has been lodged with police and it is not believed anyone was injured.
Robinson, recruited from Tasmania, has played 67 games with the Blues.
