‘It hit me hard’

In one of The Block‘s most emotional moments this season, Robby is left devastated when he misses his baby son’s first word.

“It was super exciting and amazing that he’s done it,” barber Robby, 37, tells TV WEEK. “I knew I would miss moments, but I just didn’t think it would be the most important one. It really did hit me hard. It hit Mat as well; it hit the producers; it hit our builders. Everyone felt that.”
Robby and Mat get emotional this week on The Block. (Credit: Nine)
Robby and Mat’s bond built over 15 years, has strengthened by being there for each other during life’s toughest challenges – including Mat’s shocking health battles.

“I’ve suffered two spontaneous pneumothoraces, when my lung has burst and collapsed,” reveals hairdresser Mat, 41. “Then, in 2019, two vertebrae crushed the discs in my neck. The surgeon said it looked like I’d been in a high-speed collision.”

Despite surgeries, a month in hospital and titanium cages in his neck, Mat pushed forward, even growing his business empire from his hospital bed, with Robby always in his corner.
The pair have been good mates for 15 years! (Credit: Nine)
“If you were in a wheelchair, I’d put nice wheels on it and push you around,” Robby quips.

“Normally the nurses are bringing in flowers – but they were bringing in boxes of samples for me,” Mat says.

“I started my own shampoo range, and then it led on to skincare. Rob wanted me to slow down, but I was just sitting there on drugs, I needed to keep myself busy.”
Robby has a difficult week, missing his newborn son.
Their unwavering mutual support
has seen the duo tackle The Block with grit and humour, leaning on each other through wins, losses
and everything
in between.

Now it’s Main Bedroom Week and the boys are confident their bold design choices, heritage-listed views and a stunning custom-made four-poster bed will wow buyers come auction day.
But what will
the judges think?
(Credit: Nine)
Mat and Robby met 15 years ago in Adelaide when Mat was cutting Robby’s hair and have been best friends ever since.

As a hairdresser and barber, Robby and Mat’s family had a hilarious reaction to the news that they’d be joining the 21st season of The Block.

“It was mainly along the lines of ‘Oh my gosh!!’ or ‘finally Australia gets to see what we see’ or ‘you’re hairdressers, not builders!’,” they confessed.

While Robby is well-versed in The Block chaos, Mat has entered the season blind having never seen an episode.

Robby had the idea to apply for the Channel Nine reality series while Mat was celebrating his 40th birthday in Bali, Indonesia.
(Credit: Nine)
“So we truly had no idea what we were walking into… or crawling out of, for that matter,” they told us.

“But one thing we did know is that we were going to laugh hard every single day. We’re definitely not from the building or design world, but we’re quick learners, full of big ideas, so let’s hope we adapt and learn some new skills and make some new friends along the way.”

Where Robby and Mat lack experience, they at least have enthusiasm! Out of the five other teams competing on The Block in 2025, the besties admittedly have the least experience.

But the pair are sacrificing a lot to compete leaving behind their small businesses and Robby’s young family.

“When the show started, Brooks was only four months old. Leaving my partner Alyssa, a brand-new mum, was by far the hardest decision – knowing I wouldn’t be there to help during those early, exhausting months,” Robby confessed.
(Credit: Nine)
“But we knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we were all in.”

Alas, Robby and Mat were “not nervous at all” to join The Block, with the former believing many viewers will relate to them.

“What you see is exactly who we are in everyday life. We’re not the type to gossip, stir drama or get caught up in any of the nonsense – so we’re pretty confident we’ll steer clear of any “villain” labels. We’re just here to have a good laugh every day and make the most of the experience,” they said.