http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-grand-final-2016-dennis-cometti-will-call-his-last-game-this-weekend-20160930-grs9ce.html
Truly the end of an era. I for one at least will miss him. Some great memories.
Thanks Dennis and enjoy the next phase in your life.
Legend. Favorite line:
"He went in optimistically and came out misty optically" in reference to a player who came out of a pack bloody eyed.
Pav recounted one today on ch7. The two Carr brothers were both wearing no 9 and playing for PA and Freo respectively when they collided during the game. Dennis chimed in with something like:
"Look at that, a two Carr collision both with the same rego plates"
Will miss you Den.
I hope McAvaney goes sooner, rather than later. I hate his commentary. His predictive calling is annoying and when he gets it wrong we have to listen to his reason for getting it wrong as well! Then there's the stretched names!!!! Rioliiiiiiii, Popppppeeeeee, Roughieeeeee!
The wrong guy is retiring. Thanks DC.
Yep - thanks for 4 decades of (mostly) sterling service.
Thanks Denis , end of an era, enjoyed his commentary though out the years
Thanks DC. Somehow I think we'll be hearing him again... Even if it is from the west
The Cometti - McAvaney love-in schmaltz at the end was disgusting. When will 7 realise it's not about the commentators.
Awesome commentator. When Bruce goes we will be left with a load of crap.
Lets just say this, Ch.7 are in massive trouble now he's gone, their 2nd best is so far behind they haven't been spotted coming over the horizon.
Serious? I thought it was fantastic - the commentators of today are narcisstic wankers, these Two love the game first and foremost and how fantastic To see that loyalty exists within colleagues still nowadays!
Cometti has a good understanding of the game and I think that gave his commentating an edge over other callers. He lacks the 'look at me' behaviour of some and doesn't get caught up in the nonsense that helps spoil Taylor's commentary.
Interestingly, he said that he wasn't retiring, just not travelling anymore. I wonder if he'll call the WA games.
I hope so.
Anyone is better than Basil Zempilas. The guy barracks for western australian teams when he is calling and is boring as watching paint dry.
Commetti has some of the best one liners in the game. He is like the iconic commentary team members from the 90's who were all distinctly different, but had charachter.
The only reason Zempilas gets a guernsey is because he is good mates with Stokes.
Zempilas - master of the blindingly bleedin' obvious. ::)
DJC
That's exactly what I've heard. DC will continue to commentate, just not away from his home state.
He's been fabulous to listen to IMO.
There are times I listen to some of the newer generation, and struggle to recognise it as AFL. So many on TV and radio are so full of themselves, and the commentary reflects just that. I've no doubt they watch themselves and think they're legend's.
As Benjamin Franklin said "he that falls in love with himself will have no rivals" Narcissus lives on...
BTW this trait is very common amongst men (or women) who cheat on their partners :o familiar?
So long as commentators can stay focused on the game, I'll keep listening. Not holding my breath though...
Then why do it on live TV when the Premiers are celebrating down below? Narcissism at its best.
like a favorite uncle going away for good.
Whats left behind are idiots that lack flair, wit and ruin a good game...
bleak days ahead
I think that Eddie McGuire would be the new best commentator.
Did it well. End of their telecast and it was brief but sincere. 40 years of brilliant commentary deserved to be recognized.
...if, true, doesn't that say something of deep concern!! Dennis had something that Eddie and many other commentators don't have - class. A few ABC trained blokes have it too.
Maybe he crafted his humour after he became an established commentator rather than using his humour to secure his spot. You'd have to look at his early work to see which came first. It may be that there are younger commentators who are ready to take it to the next level to fill the gap. For instance, Basil Zempilas could benefit if Ch 7 wants to create a new Cometti. He has the smooth delivery of Dennis (and even the acquiline nose) albeit he can't match the low pitch. He's a bit light-hearted in the Cometti tradition too. If Ch 7 brands him as the new Cometti and he does the hard work of coming up with some zingers, he could succeed. At the moment, he's a bit colourless but no doubt that has been a smart survival technique in commentary boxes which have not been short on ego. He'd have to be part of a supportive team if Ch 7 wants to groom him. In other words, you couldn't put him with Brian Taylor as Taylor wants to be the funny guy and the boss. Bruce McAvaney would be ideal. He'd be more than happy to pump up his zingers, as he did with Cometti.
As pre-meditated as they were his "observations" came of the back of hard work, he does a full match visualisation session before every game in much the same way race callers rehearse the call using a phantom race.
The likes of Taylor do not have that sort of work ethic or commitment, they think they did all the hard work during their playing careers and calling is some sort of right or entitlement.
It took all of 35 secs!! Brief, sincere and well deserved.
I think that's right LP. Most of the ex-footballers calling games rely on their experiences rather than putting in the hard preparatory work that the likes of Cometti, McAvaney, Lane, Whately, Hansen and Underwood do.
Gosh anyone but Basil - I find him to be a complete dick
Ch.7 is run out of Sydney, most of the executive staff and creative personnel have no interest in AFL, for them Dennis was the biggest story!