Beloved sports broadcaster Dennis Cometti, who coined some of the AFL‘s most memorable phrases, has died aged 76.
Cometti’s distinguished career spanned more than half a century across a range of sports but he was best known for his work as an AFL commentator, where his dulcet tones and quick wit made him a household name.
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‘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.
Born in Geraldton in Western Australia, Cometti played 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.
Dennis Cometti interviews Alastair Clarkson before a match between Adelaide and Hawthorn in 2014. Photo by Morne de Klerk/Getty Images
Cometti joined Seven in 1986 and spent the better part of the next three decades at the network, also serving stints at Nine, 3AW and Triple M.
Along with long-time commentary partner Bruce McAvaney, he called some of the AFL’s most memorable moments.
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.
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.”
