RIP Dennis Cometti

[Ross]

Christ that is sobering. Of all the people.

If that is correct and Dennis chose to deal with it privately then I would hope the media don't splash that all over the news against his wishes - absolutely nothing to be ashamed of obviously, that insidious disease does not play favourites, but if anyone is a man best remembered for his sharp mind and quick wit it is Cometti.

Yeah, I was just going by these quotes from Zempilas, hopefully he had the okay to disclose it as nobody else seems to have mentioned it.

Zempilas said Cometti was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and a “severe” form of dementia before his death.

“No one wanted to see him that way and we knew him as that great orator, that incredible personality, that wonderful smile and that wit, and he wasn’t able to be that person in the last year or so, and so there is some mercy to all of this,” he said.

Zempilas leads WA tributes for broadcasting icon Dennis Cometti

Zempilas first met Cometti around his late teens when he was playing WAFL at West Perth where the now Opposition Leader expressed interest in becoming a broadcaster like Cometti.

www.smh.com.au

 

[Bald]

“And the Western Suburbs erupt.”

That they did. Vale Dennis.

 

[Partridge]

It's funny how he managed to deliver such quality commentary without giving anyone the shits. People love to hate commentators, but I don't know if I've come across anyone that hated Dennis Commetti. That alone is borderline impossible.
But to also be able to be legitimately funny without trying too hard and making about himself was a legitimate gift.

As big as a part of the game he became himself, he never injected himself into it.

Respect.

Honestly I wonder if that combination of skill as a caller, likeability and wit will ever happen again in AFL footy?

I honestly don't think so.

That line right there is exactly what no one hated him. It was always the game and players first. As it should be.

I reckon there was a brief period maybe mid-2000s where he started throwing a few too many one-liners in, almost like he was forcing them in, whereas for the most part they were spontaneous. Then just as quickly, because he had self-awareness he immediately scaled it back. Every single commentator could learn from that.

Legend.

 

[joe444]

His call of the '94 Prelim was extraordinary. "There is no justice in football. That was the look on the face of Michael Martyn

Michael Martyn

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. The master all day and this game will be remembered for this kick."

I note that Caro's tribute mentioned that he did not like "journalists who were prima donnas". She then mentions herself 8 times. I recommend Rohan Connolly's tribute at EPSN instead.

 

[Not a mere cat]

Missed this news until last night. Was shocked and saddened. How lucky were we to have Dennis and Bruce commentating games. Vale Dennis and thanks

It’s telling there is not one negative post, universal love which I think is a first for BF

Alzheimers is a horrible disease, I watched my dad slowly decline over 10 years, seeing the person you love disappear and become non verbal. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy

 

[emuboy]

Dennis Cometti's sad death yesterday is one of those one where you can't actually believe they are gone, like Shane Warne and Steve Irwin. RIP Dennis.

 

[pavstar]

Seeing how universal the praise and respect for Dennis Cometti from all the AFL teams supporter bases and the wider sporting community, just shows what a high class individual he was. It is a rarity to see such admiration to this extent. RIP Dennis…

 

[Rail King]

His call of the '94 Prelim was extraordinary. "There is no justice in football. That was the look on the face of Michael Martyn. The master all day and this game will be remembered for this kick."

I note that Caro's tribute mentioned that he did not like "journalists who were prima donnas". She then mentions herself 8 times. I recommend Rohan Connolly's tribute at EPSN instead.

Yeah, Rohan Connolly would never mention himself.........................

 

[The Tilt]

So sad. Easily the best commentator Australian Football has had (not even a close call).

Vale Dennis.

 

[Gough]

Shout out from the Treasurer in QT today. per the Graund

Chalmers continues:

To paraphrase Dennis Cometti, the Shadow Treasurer came into the week optimistically and he finishes the week misty optically.

 

[Cyclops]

He was a good commentator. He was seen as a bit slick and lightweight when he started IIRC. I think it was because he overcooked the gags, and early on I recall him protesting he didn't want to be remembered for that, but such is life.

He didn't fall into the Rex Hunt trap of mutating from a good caller into a mockery of himself.

He had played the game to a decent level (was it WAFL ressies? when that league was still decent) so his opinions were relevant. No shockers like Anthony Hudson lecturing Nathan Buckley on how hard it is to play in the last quarter, or MacAveny pontificating on how Steven Lawrence

Steven Lawrence

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was going to dominate the game for a decade (spoiler: he didn't). Bruce was a gun commentator, but no one is perfect.

There's room for insightful comments (eg Lethal or Bucks), there's room for slick callers (and MacAveny is the king of slick callers, got the names right, encyclopedic stats knowledge, all sound race-caller skills) btu I think Cometti managed to combine a high level of play by play as well as genuine footy knowledge. Some of the jokes were funny too.

Was he a good non footy caller? That would suggest real professionalism.

Would be up there with MacEveny as the best commentator in living memory.

 

[Pistol Night]

Shout out from the Treasurer in QT today. per the Graund

Do we have to ruin a beautiful thread with a reference from that shit stain

 

[Tall poppy Syndrome]

Shout out from the Treasurer in QT today. per the Graund

Yeah I saw that.

I have no idea nor interest in what Dennis’s politics were - he always struck me as far too intelligent and open minded to be rusted on to either side - but I think he would’ve loved that.

 

[qman]

Great commentator. Probably consistently the best ever. I like McAvaney in his prime as the best sports caller ever and I was a big Sandy Roberts fan. I'd have Bruce and Dennis as the top 2 all time. RIP.