Dennis Cometti State memorial service: Famed commentator remembered as a ‘proud Gero boy’

WA broadcasting legend Dennis Cometti has been remembered as a “proud Gero boy” who never forgot where he came from at his State memorial service on Monday.

It was a centimetre perfect send-off for Cometti, who died in March aged 76, with dignitaries and football luminaries joining his family and friends to pay tribute to a one-of-a-kind talent at Optus Stadium.

Premier Roger Cook said Cometti was the “Shakespeare of Australian Rules commentary”.

“Dennis was a proud Gero boy. He was born in 1949, the only child of Dulcie and Jim Cometti. Although his family left Geraldton early in his life, you could argue that he started a trend,” he said.

“Geraldton and the wider Great Northern Football League has become a well-known footballer factory, producing WAFL and AFL players like nowhere else in the country.

“As Premier of WA it delighted me to hear how proud Dennis was of his roots.

“One particular anecdote told by Peter Sweeney, former editor of the Geraldton Guardian, encapsulates his pride with good humour.

“He wrote ‘Dennis Cometti asked — or nearly demanded — that I achieve one thing when I was editor of the Geraldton Guardian. Underneath the signs Geraldton at either end of the coastal city he wanted the words Birthplace of Dennis Cometti. He was part serious, part sarcastic, but it also showed the sports calling guru was proud of where he entered the world.’

“Dennis may have entered the world in Geraldton, but he ended up literally everywhere.”

As Cometti’s wife Velia and children Ricki and Mark watched on, other speakers included former West Perth captain Les Fong, Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas, and Cometti’s partner in crime in the commentary box for many years, Bruce McAvaney.