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The Seven Network is deeply saddened by the passing of long-time Seven Network sport broadcaster, Dennis Cometti AM, who passed away at 76 years of age.
Dennis spent 26 years at the Seven Network from 1986 to 2001, and again from 2007 until his final match on Seven, the 2016 AFL Grand Final on 1 October 2016.
Starting his media career as a radio announcer in Perth in 1968, while also juggling a playing career with West Perth in the Western Australian Football League (WAFL), Dennis then went on to work for the ABC between 1972 and 1985 and the Nine Network between 2002-2006, before returning home to Seven in 2007.
Separate to his AFL achievements, Dennis also covered three Summer Olympics for Seven including Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000, where Australians heard a raft of iconic moments which included Gold Medal heroics from Susie O’Neill, Kieran Perkins and Ian Thorpe.
Although they had shared the microphone before, it was between 2007 and 2016 that Dennis and his dear friend, Bruce McAvaney truly hit their stride. Across near 450 matches, their chemistry and big-moment calls defined a golden run and secured their place among world sport’s most revered commentary partnerships.
Seven Network sport commentator, Bruce McAvaney said: “When I think about Dennis, one of the first things I think about is the amount of joy he brought to all of our lives.”
“How many times did he make us laugh and smile? We would sit there and think, how did he think of that? He leaves a legacy that is undeniable, unique, and authentic. In many ways he was the benchmark for all of those that are following in his footsteps. We are a nation who prides itself in having so many of the all-time great sport commentators, and he was up there with the very best of them.
“Perhaps the most impressive thing about Dennis is that through his calling, he made footballers famous. That’s a gift,” he said.
“On a personal level, I feel like I’ve lost something truly precious. We shared an extraordinary journey. We were a similar age and at similar stages of our lives, and we both understood the pressure that came with the role – the effort it demanded and the vulnerability that came with trying to live up to expectations. We leaned on each other through that. We always had each other’s backs.
“While Dennis and I started our careers as colleagues, we ended as friends and I am so grateful for that.”
Seven Network Head of AFL and Sport Innovation, Gary O’Keeffe said: “While Den will forever be remembered for his iconic one-liners, he was by any measure a world-class caller who has entertained sport fans – especially footy fans – across the whole nation and all over the world.
“More importantly, off-camera, Dennis was a world-class person. Everyone who had the opportunity to meet and work alongside him, walked away from the experience a better person. His impact will be felt far and wide across the industry. We are so lucky to have known him.
“When we think back to some of the greatest moments in footy folklore, Dennis has more than likely provided the soundtrack. It’s hard to imagine anyone else in world sport who could so brilliantly and so succinctly capture the moment.
“We will forever remember when Peter Wilson bobbed up like a cork in the ocean, and Heath Shaw snuck up behind Nick Riewoldt like a librarian. Perhaps none more iconic than when the western suburbs erupted over Tom Boyd’s goal in the 2016 Grand Final – the last AFL goal Dennis called on television.
“On behalf of everyone at the Seven Network and particularly our sport department who have worked so closely with Den over his incredible career, we send our thoughts to his wife Velia, and children, Ricki and Mark at this incredibly difficult time.
Voted the Television Caller of the Year by the Australian Football Media Association (AFMA) a record 11 times, in 2006 he also won the Alf Potter Award for that season’s most outstanding media personality and the sports category at the West Australian of the Year awards in 2017. In 2018 he was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award for excellence in sports journalism at the 17th annual Sport Australia Media Awards.
Dennis Cometti is a member of the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Australian Football Media Association Halls of Fame. In 2019 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the broadcast media as a sports presenter, and to the community.
Seven will acknowledge the incredible career of Dennis Cometti at tomorrow night’s Opening Round match between the Sydney Swans and Carlton at the SCG.
As announced earlier this year, Seven will broadcast a documentary into the life and career of Dennis Cometti later this year, aptly titled Centimetre Perfect led by his great mate and Seven broadcaster, Bruce McAvaney.
