Dennis Cometti AM, the legendary broadcaster known for his dry wit and inspired turn of phrase who retired in 2021 after a career that spanned 51 years, has passed away aged 76. He died in Perth, Western Australia, on 4 March 2026, after a long illness, with former colleague Basil Zempilas later confirming he was battling Alzheimer's disease and a severe form of dementia.
The family's statement, released ahead of West Coast's Sunday fixture against Gold Coast, reflects the scale of national response to his passing. A Western Australia native, Cometti was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2020 and was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2019. Yet the tributes flowing from football clubs, commentators, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have exceeded even their expectations.
Speaking to 7NEWS, the Cometti family expressed their gratitude for the community's recognition of his work. Their statement captured something often left unsaid in moments of grief: Cometti's family said the broadcasting legend would be humbled and amazed by the wide-ranging and heartfelt tributes from the footy world. The comment speaks to his personal humility, despite five decades defining Australian sports broadcasting.
Fellow broadcaster Bruce McAvaney, who formed a famous partnership with Cometti at the Seven Network, said that when thinking of Dennis, one of the first things he thinks about is the amount of joy he brought to all of our lives, asking 'how many times did he make us laugh and smile,' and adding that he leaves a legacy that is undeniable, unique, and authentic. Their on-air partnership from 2007 to 2016 across nearly 450 matches became one of the most respected commentary duos in global sport.
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said Cometti's lines would live long in the memory of fans across the country, across several generations, noting that every fan of a certain age has their own catchphrase that jumps straight to the tongue, whether it's 'cork in the ocean,' 'centimetre perfect,' or other moments from his greatest work. Phrases like 'centimetre perfect,' 'like a cork in the ocean,' 'snuck up on him like a librarian,' and 'Liberatore went into that last pack optimistically and came out misty optically' became part of football folklore.
AFL Commission chairman Richard Goyder said that Dennis was a voice for their game for more than 50 years, capturing the moment perfectly every time and making it fun along the way, noting his start at the ABC with a significant career broadcasting cricket for Test matches in the 1970s, and that while footy was lucky to have him the longest, he was a master of calling everything, cricket, the Olympics, swimming and anything he turned his hand to.
The family confirmed that they have accepted the Western Australian Government's offer of a state memorial service. The event is scheduled for the coming weeks and will provide an official opportunity for the sporting community and public to pay their respects to a man who shaped generations of Australian sport through his voice and wit.
Before his storied commentary career, Cometti was a handy footballer for West Perth in the WAFL, playing 38 games and kicking 70 goals between 1967 and 1971. He called his final match, the 2021 AFL Grand Final in Perth, on Triple M radio alongside his son, Mark. He is survived by his wife Velia, daughter Ricki and son Mark.