One of the most recognizable voices in Australian sports is gone. Dennis Cometti, the legendary AFL broadcaster whose witty one-liners and unmistakable voice defined generations of football coverage, has died at the age of 76 after a long illness.
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Cometti spent more than five decades calling games across television and radio, becoming one of the most beloved commentators in Australian sports history.
His career stretched across networks including Seven, Nine, ABC and Triple M, where his sharp humor and unforgettable phrases turned big moments into lasting memories.
Tributes quickly poured in from across the football world.
Former broadcaster and Western Australian political leader Basil Zempilas said Cometti was a once-in-a-generation talent.
"He was the best of his kind at his craft," Zempilas said. "Western Australia was incredibly proud of him."
Fellow commentary legend Bruce McAvaney remembered Cometti as someone who brought joy to fans every time he picked up the microphone.
"He made footballers famous," McAvaney said. "That's a gift."
Cometti's famous "Cometti-isms" became part of football folklore, from describing a play as "centimetre perfect" to saying a player appeared "like a librarian, he never heard him."
Beyond football, Cometti also called cricket and Olympic swimming, including iconic moments like Kieren Perkins' unforgettable 1500-meter freestyle victory at the 1996 Olympics.
He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame, the Western Australian Football Hall of Fame and the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. In 2019, he was named a Member of the Order of Australia.
