Vale Dennis: An icon, a legend, an outstanding human being
Remembering WA's greatest football export
First and foremost, he was a friend.
I wasn’t alone there. Dennis Cometti was a friend to many, extremely generous with his time, his guidance and his counsel.
His death at the age of 76 has rightly sent the football community and everyone who came into his orbit into mourning.
It says so much of the man that although he was one of history’s greatest callers - and untouchable in Australian Rules football - he will be remembered far and wide for who he was as a person as much as what he did in his career.
A gifted player at West Perth, mentored by the great Polly Farmer.
A coach, first in the suburban Sunday League with Maddington, Osborne Park and Kelmscott, then at the Falcons in the WAFL.
A broadcaster without peer.
An outstanding human being.
As Bruce McAvaney once said: “Nobody is irreplaceable. But there is only one Cometti and there will only ever be one Cometti.”
Back in 2016, having worked with him on a few projects, Dennis agreed to let me cover his final year as a commentator.
We would catch up regularly for coffee, for chats that would begin as a background interview but quickly divert to the changing roles of the media in the game, parenthood, career advice, his childhood hero Bob Johnson and, on a number of occasions, the 1998 Hell in a Cell match between Mankind and The Undertaker.
Having the attention of the great Dennis Cometti made you feel special. And he gave it freely to so many. He was always up for a chat.
It’s one of the defining characteristics of the man — he may be one of the biggest names in football but no one felt uncomfortable in his presence.
“Often people that see someone they recognise from TV, there might be a snide remark or a bit of a giggle,” his protege Basil Zempilas said.
“But when I see people react to Dennis, I see them react with respect and almost a sense of awe.”
Centimetre Perfect. Like a cork in the ocean. A stadium holds its breath. Went in optimistically and came out misty optically. Some of the words he will be remembered for.
But personally, I’ll remember him as much for the ribbing he gave me when I moved away from Yokine - where he lived most of his life - and became a western suburbs sellout.
“You always live in fear of buggering things up,” he told me the morning after his final call.
“So to get through unscathed is a nice feeling.”
Unscathed. Unmatched. Untouchable.
Vale Dennis, you’ll be missed.
Here are just a few of the tributes to the great man that are worth your time today:
Humour, warmth, talent, work ethic: Basil Zempilas’ tribute to Dennis Cometti [The West]
AFL world mourns passing of iconic commentator Dennis Cometti [AFL]
Dennis Cometti, legendary sports commentator, dies aged 76 [ABC]
Such a unique voice. Was without peer. Thanks for this read, Nick.