On the eve of the 2026 AFL season, players and fans are mourning the loss of legendary commentator Dennis Cometti.

Cometti passed away in Perth on Wednesday after battling Alzheimer’s disease and dementia for several years.

Known and loved for his warm character and quick-witted “Cometti-isms”, he was a giant of Australian sports broadcasting.

While Cometti is best remembered for his unique commentary style, he was also a talented footballer in his younger years.

He played 38 games for West Perth (1967–71) in the West Australian Football League and also coached the team for three seasons (1982–84).

His best year was as a 19-year-old in 1968, when he kicked 63 goals under the coaching of the legendary Graham “Polly” Farmer.

He made the senior list at Footscray in 1971, but did not play a senior VFL game due to injuries and media commitments.

He returned to Perth and had success as captain-coach of Maddington in the South Suburban Murray Football League, winning a hat-trick of premierships from 1974–76 and being club best and fairest in 1975 and 1976.

He also coached Kelmscott to the premiership in the same competition in 1979.

But it was commentary where Cometti really thrived.

Cometti’s media career began as a disc jockey on Perth radio station 6KY in 1968.

He covered a range of sports, including cricket, Australian rules football and swimming across five........

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