Tributes flow after final call for king of one-liners
Allanah Sciberras |
Dennis Cometti, the master of the one-liner who brought AFL and cricket to life on the airwaves, is being mourned as one of the greats of Australian broadcasting.
Cometti helped shape some of Australian sport’s greatest moments over a career that spanned more than 50 years.
News of the 76-year-old icon’s passing filtered through social media and industry circles on Wednesday, prompting an outpouring of tributes for the man so often described as the “best in the business”.
Cometti was best known for his work as an AFL commentator, where his dulcet tones and quick wit made him a household name.
“Cometti-isms” such as “centimetre perfect”, “went in optimistically, came out misty-optically” and “he came up behind him like a librarian” became part of the footy lexicon.
Long-time commentary partner Bruce McAvaney led the tributes for the broadcast legend, who he said had a true gift for his craft.
The pair shared the microphone for nearly 450 matches and were renowned not only for their friendship, but for a natural on-air chemistry and big-moment calls that helped define a golden era in broadcast history.
“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 said.
“He leaves a legacy that is undeniable, unique, and authentic. 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.”
Australia’s sporting industry had lost somebody “truly precious”, McAvaney added.
Born in Geraldton in Western Australia, Cometti was first an athlete, playing 40 matches for West Perth in the WAFL before launching into a full-time broadcasting career.
He worked for the ABC from 1972 to 1985, where he broadcast his first Test cricket match aged 23.
Cometti joined Seven in 1986 and spent the better part of the next three decades at the network, serving stints at Nine, 3AW and Triple M.
He retired from full-time commentary in 2016 and called his final AFL game in 2021 when the grand final was held in Perth.
Cometti, who covered three Summer Olympic Games – 1992 in Barcelona, 1996 in Atlanta and 2000 in Sydney – was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame and a member of the Order of Australia.
Tributes from across the industry poured in following the news of his death, including from West Australian Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas, a former colleague of Cometti’s at Seven.
“What an incredible privilege to have known Den, to have worked with him and to have been able to call him a friend,” he said.
“We were all so proud of Den. He was one of a kind. The best in the business, incredibly gifted and dedicated to his craft and such a warm, caring person. Den you will be missed, but never forgotten.”
Sport Australia Hall of Fame chairman John Bertrand said Cometti’s contribution to sport went far beyond commentary.
“He shaped how generations experienced the game,” he said.
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said Cometti was a legend of the game, paying tribute to his “incredible turns of phrase”.
“I think what he’ll be best remembered for from a footy point of view is just the way that he brought our game to life through his commentary,” Dillon told reporters.
“It’s a really sad day for the AFL, for the Cometti family. Our condolences go out to them and he will be remembered so fondly by all at the AFL.”
AAP