Australian sports commentary icon Dennis Cometti passes away, aged 76

Beloved sports broadcaster and Australian commentary icon Dennis Cometti has passed away, aged 76.

Born in Geraldton, Western Australia, the Channel 7 icon’s career in the professional media landscape spanned 53 years between 1968 and 2021.

The last AFL match he called was the 2021 AFL Grand Final for Triple M, a radio station he joined in 2012 after previous stints at 3AW and the ABC.

Cometti is much-loved for his exceptional calling ability when covering Australian rules football, and is etched in AFL history with countless memorable calls of famous modern-day moments within the sport.

He also played 38 games and kicked 70 goals during his five-year stint at West Perth in the WAFL between 1967 and 1971.

In 2020, Cometti has inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame, and also sits in the Melbourne Cricket Club and AFMA Halls of Fame respectively.

He was also listed as a senior player at Footscray, though due to his increasing media commitments and injury, he did not play a VFL game.

It was announced only a fortnight ago that Cometti would have a special documentary released this year celebrating his career, named ‘Centimetre Perfect’ in reference to one of his memorable one-liners.

In a statement released by the AFL on Wednesday afternoon, league chief executive Andrew Dillon paid tribute to his final television call, the 2016 Grand Final between the Western Bulldogs and Sydney; which saw the former break a 62-year premiership drought.

“Dennis’ call of that amazing game was simply perfect but every fan of a certain age has their own catchphrase that jumps straight to the tongue, whether it’s ’cork in the ocean’, ‘centimetre perfect’ or Buddy sprinting down the wing at the MCG,” Dillon said.

“We are privileged that so much of his greatest work calling our biggest games is easily available for all fans, and thank you Dennis for illuminating footy and your contribution across the country to bring that excitement into homes.’

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