WA Football Mourns Death of Commentary King

Tributes are flowing for WA broadcasting legend Dennis Cometti who has passed away at the age of 76 after battling illness.

Cometti spent three decades behind the microphone commentating AFL matches on television until his retirement at the end of 2016.

He broke into broadcasting in the early 1970’s, joining the ABC before making the move to commercial television where he worked with Channel 7 and Channel 9.

Blessed with a golden voice, Cometti was part of WA football history when he commentated the West Coast Eagles’ maiden AFL premiership in 1992.

Whether it was AFL, WAFL, Test cricket, the Olympics ore basketball, Cometti had the ability to call the action with accuracy and emotion, creating many iconic moments in Australian sport.

Revered for his turn of phrase, Cometti produced several memorable one-liners, most notably ‘centimetre perfect’.

Interim WA Football Chief Executive Peter Bell paid tribute to the legacy left by the broadcasting legend.

“Dennis will be remembered as a master of his craft, capturing football’s biggest moments perfectly,” Bell said.

“He will be sadly missed, and the thoughts of the WA football community go out to his family and friends.”

Cometti received many honours during and post his career.

The media centre at Optus Stadium was named in his honour in 2018 and the following year he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia.

Cometti was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2020 and in 2021 he was inducted into the West Australian Football Hall of Fame.

Dennis Cometti career record:
Played 38 games and scored 70 goals for West Perth: 1967-1971
Coached 65 games for West Perth: 1982-1984

Football broadcast history: 
1972 – 1985: ABC Radio
1986 – 2001: Seven Network
2002 – 2006: Nine Network
2007 ­– 2016: Seven Network
2008 – 2011: 3AW
2012 – 2021: Triple M

Appointed as a member of the Order of Australia (AM): 2019

Alf Potter Award: 2006

AFMA Television Caller of the Year on 11 occasions

Sport Australia Lifetime Achievement Award: 2018

Sport Australia Hall of Fame: 2019

West Australian Football Hall of Fame: 2021

Inducted into the MCG Hall of Fame

Inducted into the AFMA Hall of Fame