RIP Dennis Cometti

[Woobla Stainz]

The best to ever do it!! Hasn't been the same listening to the big games without him since he retired, no-one comes close. RIP big fella

 

[Mr Q]

Every commentator wants to be Cometti. None can come close - and they shouldn't even try.

He was an absolute once off that we won't get again. RIP Dennis. May your scrabble board never spell YZE, your corks all be in the ocean, and may it forever be centimeter perfect

 

[Keys]

He was head and shoulders above anyone else during his time - knowledgeable, articulate, witty and restrained. And all done with a easy humility that belied his greatness

The gap between then and what passes for commentary now is a chasm that will never be breached. Screaming banshees that get things wrong as often as they do correct who continually try to insert themselves into the game

I missed him the moment he put down his headphones for the last time and now it’s truly final

Such a sad day

And also find his call of the 4x100m men’s freestyle final at the Sydney Olympics to understand his abilities extended beyond just football

 

[Keys]

He was head and shoulders above anyone else during his time - knowledgeable, articulate, witty and restrained. And all done with a easy humility that belied his greatness

The gap between then and what passes for commentary now is a chasm that will never be breached. Screaming banshees that get things wrong as often as they do correct who continually try to insert themselves into the game

I missed him the moment he put down his headphones for the last time and now it’s truly final

Such a sad day

And also find his call of the 4x100m men’s freestyle final at the Sydney Olympics to understand his abilities extended beyond just football

Here it is



Makes your hair stand on end

 

[DorothyG]

Real sad news.
Condolences to the family and those that knew him.

Probably his two greatest lines
"Like a cork in the ocean" and
"He came up behind him like a librarian"
are just so wonderfully unique and descriptive that could not have possibly been premeditated but came across as so natural to him

There will never will be another Dennis. We really didn't know how good we had it

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

It's rare to find someone universally beloved in any field, but Dennis Cometti was.

 

[THE A5]

No coincidence that the level of commentary slid after his retirement. Could make an argument for him being the best caller in Aussie sports. The a large mob of the current callers would all be vying out for the worst.

 

[Hap Hapablap]

literally the voice of my childhood,

sydney olympics
every afl game i can think of
south africa test 1997
the seven news

vale dennis.

 

[Astro7]

I clearly remember walking along a hills street as a teenager in the early 70's and hearing his voice blaring out from someones radio, calling footy. Funny the things that stick in your head. Such a distinctive voice. Vale. There's talk of a state funeral.

 

[Tricove]

Heard he wasn’t well a year or so ago.. bad alzheimers was the rumour. Will always be the voice of football to me. RIP Dennis

 

[Farang83150]

The siren went way to early.
RIP mate and you can show Lou Richard's how to call properly while your up there.

 

[InTheWings]

So sorry to hear this. WA royalty. Such a professional. One of the best callers you'd want to hear.

Condolences to his family.

 

[Matera92]

He was head and shoulders above anyone else during his time - knowledgeable, articulate, witty and restrained. And all done with a easy humility that belied his greatness

The gap between then and what passes for commentary now is a chasm that will never be breached. Screaming banshees that get things wrong as often as they do correct who continually try to insert themselves into the game

I missed him the moment he put down his headphones for the last time and now it’s truly final

Such a sad day

And also find his call of the 4x100m men’s freestyle final at the Sydney Olympics to understand his abilities extended beyond just football

Here it is



Makes your hair stand on end

Was just wanting to echo this sentiment, growing up at that time this and Cathy Freeman was the absolute peak of Australian sporting glory. In my opinion his greatest ever call riding Thorpey home over the last 50m still gives me chills to this day.

 

[ziad]

literally the voice of my childhood,

sydney olympics
every afl game i can think of
south africa test 1997
the seven news

vale dennis.

6IX

 

[Goroyals22]

The siren went way to early.
RIP mate and you can show Lou Richard's how to call properly while your up there.

Thanks Dessie

 

[BigBirdz]

Ahh thats so sad .
This news has snuck up behind me like a librarian..

 

[squashface]

RIP Dennis.

The best caller we have ever had and I suspect we will ever have. Needs a statue somewhere now please.

 

[Bender_]

Memories...



(Stolen from Rock Bottom)

 

[Bender_]

 

[sharps24]

Football has never been the same since he retired. Just one of the all time legends who did more for the game than anyone I can think of. Hope we get a Cometti round or something going forward. Might do a Cometti marathon on the weekend rewatching some games to take in those dulcet tones. RIP champion.

 

[THE A5]

“The West Coast Eagles are playing the Blues like B.B King” underrated line too

 

[WAFoozy]

Statue at Subiaco Oval thanks.

 

[Scotland]

Such deflating news. Everyone has a favourite Dennis moment whether you are a WC fan or not and as an ex player/coach his work in sports broadcasting outside footy was always top shelf as well. Never knew or met the man but I have some family and friends connected through sports media and I've never heard anyone young or old not speak highly of him.

I was glad that Channel 7 showed the clip from the end of the 2016 GF last night of Bruce saying goodbye to Dennis as a TV broadcaster. Was a nice moment at the time and fitting in the circumstances. They also replayed the last 2 minutes of the 2021 GF on Triple M which was his last radio broadcast. I had never heard that as I went to the game so didn't know that he had handed it over to Lachy Read who is a Melbourne nuffy instead of taking the limelight for himself.

 

[FatPizza]

“The West Coast Eagles are playing the Blues like B.B King” underrated line too

That should've been mark of the year.

 

[squashface]

Seven’s tribute to Dennis was great at half time.

A point that Bruce made that I thought particularly important to his legacy was that Dennis always knew when to let the moment speak for itself.

Something that most of the shrieking Howies of the world we have to deal with now don’t seem to get.