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RIP Dennis Cometti

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Altum Volantes said:
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.
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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.
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www.smh.com.au

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 www.smh.com.au
 
“And the Western Suburbs erupt.”

That they did. Vale Dennis.
 
Lavender Bushranger said:
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.
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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.
 
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.
 

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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
 
joe444 said:
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.
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Yeah, Rohan Connolly would never mention himself.........................
 
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 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.
 
Gough said:
Shout out from the Treasurer in QT today. per the Graund
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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.
 

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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.
 
Cyclops said:
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.
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Yep

There are guys who were possibly more slick callers as you say, there are guys who can do the comedy quite well, some guys are absolute students of the game and can repeat knowledge off the top of their head

Nobody combined all 3 as good as Dennis.
 
Cyclops said:
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 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.
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Dennis played for West Perth at league level. Possibly played a bunch in Ressies as well for whatever reason, I don't know. He went to Victoria to play for Footscray, injuries and a couple other things resulted in him never playing a game for them. I remember him being fond of the V/AFL Bulldogs though, not sure if he visited them at all over the years.
 
RIP Dennis, a footy/sports media legend, and a great West Australian. Though we've missed your witty on the nose calls for nearly a decade (hard to believe), the world will be a sadder place knowing you're gone.
 
pablo668 said:
Dennis played for West Perth at league level. Possibly played a bunch in Ressies as well for whatever reason, I don't know. He went to Victoria to play for Footscray, injuries and a couple other things resulted in him never playing a game for them. I remember him being fond of the V/AFL Bulldogs though, not sure if he visited them at all over the years.
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Thanks for the correction, good to know. WAFL was an excellent standard with its own character until the AFL burned it, and IMO the players that came here brought a wide open style that made footy better.

I never heard Cometti show much favouritism to any club, although in his early days when he pumped up Eagles players I suspected he was a plant (when he pumped up Magpies as he often did that was just acknowledging reality of course:think:).

I think he liked JYD (old team mate maybe?) and a couple of others, but was pretty fair in his calling.
 
Cyclops said:
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 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.
Click to expand...
Den played League for West Perth, under a chap you may have heard of, Polly Farmer. Pretty decent forward, and then a couple of years later, he coached the team for 3 years. Only gave up senior coaching due to work commitments.

One of those rare beasts, played & coached at a high level + with professional media training. Lets face it, the ABC is the best for sporting media training.
 

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masai tu said:
Den played League for West Perth, under a chap you may have heard of, Polly Farmer. Pretty decent forward, and then a couple of years later, he coached the team for 3 years. Only gave up senior coaching due to work commitments.

One of those rare beasts, played & coached at a high level + with professional media training. Lets face it, the ABC is the best for sporting media training.
Click to expand...
Polly who? ;)

Yes a lot of talent came through the abc regional services, there used to be a pathway for news and sports journalism.

Murdoch is always angling to gut the ABC but they serve the country well.
 
thewest.com.au

Dennis Cometti to be honoured with State Memorial Service

The life of legendary West Australian sports broadcaster Dennis Cometti will be commemorated in a State Memorial Service, Premier Roger Cook has confirmed.
thewest.com.au thewest.com.au

A state memorial for the late Dennis Cometti is to be held in the next week or so
 
Really lovely little touch from Anthony Hudson on the final siren last night for Dogs vs Brisbane - "Ladies and gentlemen, you've just witnessed a classic".

Understated, but a nice hat tip to Dennis.
 
Commetti loved his horse racing but no one on Earth had a poorer record of buying horses then the great man. He missed out on Doriemus and Miss Andreetti all in one lifetime, Doriemus being especially bad because he could have had 50% ownership on it for basically diddly squat. Was like a 1 mill+ profit horse
 
Cyclops said:
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 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.
Click to expand...

Yes. Can remember listening to him do the cricket on the radio. Was just as good.

The best caller we've had by a long, long way.
 

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