Herald Sun Chief Footy writer Mark Robinson says suspended Gold Coast Sun Harley Bennell tried to fight him at the 2014 Brownlow Medal count.

Speaking on Melbourne sports radio station SEN Robinson said “One of the (Suns’) players who is suspended wanted to fight me at last year’s Brownlow Medal”.

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“I’m out on the balcony having a dart and talking with Jonathan Brown and he (Bennell) come up and had a crack. 

“You know what he said? He said ‘you think you know everything’.

“So Jonathan Brown goes ‘Hey hey hey hey!’ and then it sort of stopped”

Ironically it was another of the AFL’s bad boys who diffused the situation when Bennell went at the journalist a second time.

“Then Campbell Brown came out … and he comes back again, Harley, and he has another crack,” Robinson recalled.

“Campbell says, ‘he gets loose sometimes’ — coming from Campbell Brown,” Robinson laughed.

Robinson was quick to play down the incident on air and even took to Twitter to say he was “disappointed” at how the story had been printed.

Disappointed. The bennell story was a funny one when said. No context in print. @TheOx05 and @MarkAllenSEN Would agree

— Mark Robinson (@Robbo_heraldsun) May 8, 2015

“It’s an exciting night, Brownlow medal, everyone’s dressed up!” said Robinson. 

“Anyway it all petered out, he was just a little bit intoxicated, everyone had a had a few beers, it was pretty late.

“I didn’t think I’d tell the story but then I realised it’s a real funny finish.

“He (Bennell) was just a little bit intoxicated … it’s fine, it’s ok mate.”

Earlier this week Bennell along with teammates Trent McKenzie, Brandon Matera and Danny Stanley were suspended for breaking team drinking rules, while experts have called for Gary Ablett to step down as club captain.

The Suns sit third last on the AFL ladder winning only one game in a season where they’ve been expected to fulfil their lofty potential.