To ditch Mitch is hardly a difficult call. If the Blues draw up a list on the whiteboard with ''reasons to keep him'' on one side and ''reasons to ditch him'' on the other, the latter column will be roughly twice as long as the first. It will be longer than Robinson's rap sheet of admittedly mostly minor undisciplined acts.

The ''reasons to ditch'' list begins with this offence in capital letters: Robinson has lied to the club. This is less tolerable to Carlton than the fact that he was out at 5am and found trouble – ending in a fractured eye socket. Both Mick Malthouse and Carlton have traditionally erred on the side of leniency when dealing with off-field indiscretions (though the sacking of Josh Bootsma for social media missteps might mark a turning point), but lying – even in a dumb attempt to help a teammate – won't wash with anyone, from board to boot studder.

Malthouse was senior coach at Collingwood when Heath Shaw and Alan Didak were suspended for the remainder of the 2008 season, a month before the finals, after that pair lied to the club about Didak's presence in a car that crashed when driven by a drunken Shaw. Robinson's motive, thus, was arguably similar to Shaw's, when misguided Mitch told the club doctor he had earned his black eye ''sparring'' (he didn't say ''sparring in a bar at 5am''). Robinson subsequently explained to the Blues that he did not want Jeff Garlett's selection prospects to be affected. Carlton is satisfied that Mitch and Garlett were set upon and not the aggressors in the Sunday morning fracas, with charges laid against four others.

Whereas Garlett is struggling and will be cut more slack, Robinson ''has form'' of a different kind. This is not a first offence. He was fined $1000 and asked to do community work for his part in a dust up during the Big Day Out in January 2013, though he wasn't convicted of any charge. The Tasmanian also finds it difficult to control his aggression on the field, as this latest suspension – his third of 2014 – demonstrates again. Carlton, unfortunately, doesn't have the option of suspending Robinson, because he's already suspended and the beating he copped would force him out of games anyway.

That said, Robinson can play, and he plays with commendable physical courage and hardness. He has his admirers at Carlton, and is said to be an affable character who would do anything for a mate (apparently this includes telling a fib). But he is not in the Didak-Shaw class, is not playing for a contending club and remains undisciplined. Thus, any decision to jettison Robinson would be much easier for the Blues, who tolerated Brendan Fevola for 11 turbulent seasons and were much the poorer for indulging a supremely talented, extremely high-maintenance player. Somewhat high maintenance, moderately performed players are also highly dispensable. While the return wouldn't be enormous, the Blues need every draft pick they can get.

The Carlton player leadership group was extremely disappointed with Robinson, who has also shown considerable remorse since he came clean on Thursday, the club having been alerted to the possibility of Robinson being Garlett's wingman when asked about Mitch's possible involvement by Channel Seven

Malthouse fronted the media on Wednesday, before he or the club knew the full truth. Consider how the coach would have looked – and felt – if he had been quizzed about Robinson's role and then bit back at the media in defence of his player. As of the time this column was written, Malthouse had not yet spoken to Robinson. But that unpleasant moment – for Mitch – was coming.

Robinson has embarrassed Carlton, which is trying to wipe the slate and has indicated a willingness to avoid the short-cuts of the past. Mitch Robinson, too, might benefit from a new environment. He's been in – or made – one Blue too many at Carlton.