A Nation Mourns the Loss of a Legendary Voice: Dennis Cometti Remembered
Australia’s sporting landscape has fallen silent following the passing of broadcasting icon Dennis Cometti, aged 76. Cometti, renowned for his distinctive voice, sharp wit, and unparalleled ability to capture the drama of sport, died on Wednesday after a prolonged illness, casting a pall over the nation just before the commencement of the AFL season. His career, spanning over five decades, cemented him as one of the most beloved and respected voices in Australian media.
Cometti’s legacy is deeply intertwined with Australian Rules Football, where his commentary became the soundtrack to countless iconic moments. However, his linguistic prowess extended far beyond the football oval. He also lent his golden tones to cricket and swimming, most notably providing the stirring narration for Kieren Perkins’ courageous 1500-metre freestyle triumph at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and Australia’s dominant 4x100m freestyle relay gold medal victory at the Sydney 2000 Games.
A Partnership That Defined an Era
For many, the name Dennis Cometti is inseparable from that of Bruce McAvaney. Their on-air partnership, a staple of Seven’s sporting coverage, set a new benchmark for AFL commentary. This dynamic duo not only called the action but also elevated it, creating a standard against which all subsequent commentary teams would be measured.
McAvaney, speaking through Seven, expressed the profound sense of loss felt by those who knew and admired Cometti. “When I think about Dennis, one of the first things I think about is the amount of joy he brought to all of our lives,” McAvaney stated. “How many times did he make us laugh and smile? We would sit there and think, ‘How did he think of that?’ He leaves a legacy that is undeniable, unique, and authentic.”
McAvaney further highlighted Cometti’s impact: “In many ways he was the benchmark for all of those that are following in his footsteps. We are a nation who prides itself in having so many of the all-time great sport commentators, and he was up there with the very best of them. Perhaps the most impressive thing about Dennis is that through his calling, he made footballers famous. That’s a gift.”
The formidable pairing of McAvaney and Cometti graced Seven’s broadcasts until Cometti’s retirement in 2016. Their final game together was the memorable 2016 AFL Grand Final, which saw the Western Bulldogs end a 62-year premiership drought.
“On a personal level, I feel like I’ve lost something truly precious,” McAvaney reflected. “We shared an extraordinary journey. We were a similar age and at similar stages of our lives, and we both understood the pressure that came with the role – the effort it demanded and the vulnerability that came with trying to live up to expectations. We leaned on each other through that. We always had each other’s backs. While Dennis and I started our careers as colleagues, we ended as friends, and I am so grateful for that.”
The Art of the “Cometti-ism”
Dennis Cometti’s commentary was punctuated by a collection of memorable phrases, affectionately known as “Cometti-isms.” These verbal gems became as iconic as the sporting moments they described. Phrases like “centimetre perfect” and “bobbing like a cork in the ocean” – the latter famously uttered after a Peter Wilson goal over his head in West Coast’s 1992 Grand Final victory – are etched into the memories of football fans.
Eddie McGuire, a fellow broadcaster and former Collingwood president who shared microphone duties with Cometti at Nine, lauded his colleague’s talent. “Cometti was a complete joy to work with,” McGuire said. He noted Cometti’s ability to accurately call the action, find the perfect words for any given moment, and deliver a “trademark line” that placed him “at the top of commentary anywhere in the world.”
McGuire recalled Cometti’s dry wit, particularly his description of Ben Cousins’ infamous river swim: “Cousins runs away from Carr – not for the first time.” Another classic came from the 2010 Grand Final replay, when Heath Shaw’s goal-line smother of Nick Riewoldt’s attempt was described as: “He came up behind him like a librarian, he never heard him.”
A further gem from their shared time at the microphone involved Richmond’s Darren Gaspar striking the goalpost with a shot. Cometti’s immediate reaction? “Gaspar, the unfriendly post!”
“He was more than a one-liner as a commentator,” McGuire added. “He had a deep and abiding love of the game.”
Gerard Healy, a Brownlow medallist who worked alongside Cometti at Seven, echoed these sentiments. “Cometti was simply one of the best and a joy to work with. He turned good moments into great, and great moments into forever memorable.”
A Career of Versatility and Distinction
Cometti’s exceptional talent ensured his place at the forefront of sports broadcasting, regardless of network shifts. He was a member of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame and a recipient of the Order of Australia, testaments to his significant contributions.
His broadcasting career was remarkably diverse, encompassing roles with the ABC, Seven, Nine, 3AW, and Triple M. Across these platforms, he not only commentated but also delivered sport bulletins on television. Cometti called an impressive 51 seasons of football across three television networks, primarily with Seven and Nine, and also for a stint with the ABC when they held the rights to the then-VFL in 1987.
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon expressed the league’s deep sadness at Cometti’s passing. “He brought our game to life with his commentary,” Dillon said. “He will be remembered so fondly by all at the AFL, whether it’s the turn of phrase he had or whether it was because you were a player who played with him, or whether he was a teammate you played with. I know the people who worked with him either in radio or TV, they just loved him. So it is a really sad day.”
Unforgettable Moments and Enduring Phrases
Cometti’s famous one-liners, the “Cometti-isms,” have become an integral part of football folklore, inextricably linked to many of the game’s most celebrated moments.
One such enduring memory for Geelong supporters is his call of Tom Hawkins’ after-the-siren goal against Hawthorn: “the Cat is still on the back.” This moment secured Geelong’s ninth consecutive win over their 2008 Grand Final conquerors. Earlier in that same game, Cometti quipped about Hawthorn’s Matthew Suckling having “allowed two Geelong players to collide numerically,” referring to Taylor Hunt and Steve Johnson, wearing numbers 19 and 20 respectively, crashing into each other.
The 2016 Grand Final provided another classic Cometti moment, capturing the palpable tension as Bulldogs forward Tom Boyd sent a long bomb towards goal. “How will it bounce? The stadium holds its breath. It’s a goal. And the western suburbs erupt.” This was Cometti’s final game as a television commentator, though he continued calling games in Western Australia for Triple M until the 2021 Grand Final in Perth.
While football was his primary domain, Cometti also showcased his commentary skills in cricket, working with the esteemed Alan McGilvray on the ABC for 13 years. He called his first Test match in 1973 at the young age of 23, becoming the youngest commentator in the public broadcaster’s history. He was also part of Seven’s commentary team for the 1997 South African series.
Beyond the microphone, Cometti was a talented footballer himself, playing 40 games for West Perth and being on Footscray’s list in 1971, though he did not play a senior match. He also coached West Perth for three seasons from 1982 to 1984.
Seven will honour Cometti’s life and illustrious career with a documentary titled “Centimetre Perfect,” scheduled for release later this year.
Dennis Cometti is survived by his wife Velia, son Mark, and daughter Ricki. His voice may be silenced, but his legacy, woven into the fabric of Australian sport, will resonate for generations to come.
