State memorial service honors legendary AFL commentator Dennis Cometti
Consensus Summary
Dennis Cometti, one of Australia’s most iconic sports commentators, was honored at a state memorial service held on May 4, 2026, at Optus Stadium in Perth. The event brought together politicians, athletes, and media colleagues to celebrate his life and career, which spanned over five decades. Cometti, born in Geraldton in 1949, played and coached for West Perth in the WAFL before becoming a household name for his AFL commentary, known for his distinctive voice and memorable one-liners. His career included calling Test cricket, three Olympic Games, and the West Coast Eagles’ 1992 premiership. Cometti retired from television in 2016 and radio in 2021, leaving behind a legacy recognized with awards including a Member of the Order of Australia in 2019 and inductions into the Football Australia and WA Football Halls of Fame. Tributes highlighted his warmth, wit, and deep understanding of the game, with colleagues and fans reflecting on how his commentary enriched their lives. The service underscored his enduring impact on Australian sports culture.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Dennis Cometti died on March 3, 2026, aged 76 after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease
- Cometti was born in Geraldton, Western Australia, in 1949
- Cometti played 38 games and kicked 70 goals for West Perth in the WAFL
- Cometti coached West Perth in 1982
- Cometti’s state memorial service was held at Optus Stadium (Perth Stadium) on May 4, 2026
- The service was hosted by sports broadcaster Mark Readings
- Attendees included Governor Chris Dawson, Premier Roger Cook, Opposition Leader Basil Zemplias, and former AFL commentator Bruce McAvaney
- Cometti’s commentary career spanned over 50 years, including AFL, Test cricket, and three Olympic Games (1992, 1996, 2000)
- Cometti called the West Coast Eagles’ maiden premiership in 1992, cementing his place in WA sporting folklore
- Cometti retired from television commentary in 2016 after 30 years with Channel 7 and from radio commentary in 2021 after calling the 2021 AFL Grand Final
- Cometti was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in 2019 for significant service to broadcast media
- Cometti was inducted into the Football Australia Hall of Fame in 2020 and the WA Football Hall of Fame in 2021
- Cometti’s famous one-liners included ‘Centimetre perfect,’ ‘He crept up behind him like a librarian,’ and ‘Like a cork in the ocean over his head’
- Cometti’s commentary partner Bruce McAvaney described their dynamic as ‘centimetre perfect’ and noted Cometti’s ability to sync with AFL match action
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Cometti’s Optus Stadium Media Centre bears his name
- Cometti won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Australian Sports Commission Media Awards in 2018
- Former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire, former Fremantle Docker captains Peter Bell and Matthew Pavlich, West Coast CEO Don Pyke, and Trevor Nisbett attended the service
- Premier Roger Cook described Cometti’s voice as invoking ‘a sense of comfort and familiarity’ tied to ‘some of our best memories’ over five decades
- Former West Perth captain Les Fong emphasized Cometti’s loyalty to the club, pride in the red and blue, and described him as ‘a champion bloke on and off the field’
- Basil Zemplias recalled Cometti meeting Olympic swimmer Kieran Perkins and saying, ‘Kieran, I couldn’t have done it without you’
- Cometti’s ‘carnival knee’ and ‘ungainly gait’ were noted as part of his distinctive presence in the studio
- A video montage at the memorial included tributes from Olympic swimmer Susie O’Neill, who credited Cometti’s commentary for making her 200m butterfly race in Atlanta more exciting
- Cometti spent up to 20 hours per week watching game footage and brought a suitcase full of research files into the commentary box
- Cometti’s final game on TV was the Western Bulldogs’ 2016 premiership, and his last AFL commentary was the 2021 Grand Final on radio
- Cometti was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2019 (noted separately from Football Australia Hall of Fame)
- Cometti’s famous line about his one-liners: ‘I don’t remember too many of them to be honest, so I would say they’re a lot better with vision’
- Cometti’s son Mark, wife Velia, and daughter Ricki were present at the service
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- NEWSCOMAU states Cometti was inducted into the WA Football Hall of Fame in 2021, while ABC does not mention this specific year but confirms his induction into the WA Football Hall of Fame
- NEWSCOMAU lists Trevor Nisbett as an attendee, but ABC does not mention him
- NEWSCOMAU specifies Eddie McGuire, Peter Bell, and Matthew Pavlich as attendees, but ABC does not list them
Source Articles
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