You were indeed centimetre perfect, one of a kind.
My favourite all timer was:
"He went in optimistically and came out misty optically" in reference to a player who'd been king hit in a pack (Libba v Knights maybe).
Vale DC
Very sad news. Apparently Dennis had been battling an illness for a couple of years.
He was a very knowledgeable and entertaining commentator - one of the best!
My favourite of Dennis's many brilliant lines was when Heath Shaw smothered Nick Riewoldt's certain goal in the 2010 Grand Final: "He came up behind him like a librarian!"
RIP
Definitely several levels above most current commentators. RIP.
Definitely one of the best.
Enjoyed his calling.
R.I.P.
"Those Collingwood supporters look like they've taken time off working on their PhDs to be here today..." :D
His "special" comments almost need their own thread, hilarious and extremely clever man.
Very sad indeed, a great commentator.
For me even sadder, because Cometti was the natural antidote against the BTs!
Only the good die young!
https://www.afl.com.au/news/1471772/centimetre-perfect-misty-optically-and-more-all-of-dennis-comettis-best-one-liners
Very saddened by this news. My favourite commentator by a country mile.
RIP.
I can only echo the wonderful sentiments here.
Dennis was the 'gold standard' in footy commentary, commentary accurately delivered with that elite voice and wit.
One in a billion. RIP, Dennis, you legend.
No reason why we can't post our favourite Dennis Cometti lines here - it would be a fitting tribute.
I'll second your vote for "He came up behind him like a librarian!".....
Dennis was also very good at calling the Olympic swimming; the men's 1500 metres at the Sydney Olympics was a ripper race and a great call.
Describing Susie O'Neill as having “the heart of a lion in the ‘heart of Dixie’” was a classic line from his Olympic calls.
This exchange occurred, word for word, during a match between Melbourne and Collingwood in 2007:
Co-commentator Gerard Healy: “Word is this guy is the most reliable kick for goal in the side. They say down at Collingwood if you had to have someone kicking for your life, Tarkyn Lockyer would be the man...”
Cometti: “I’d prefer my mum.”
Healy: (Shocked silence)
Cometti: “Not a great footballer, but at least she’d care.”
There is little I can say that hasn't already been said. We are the poorer from his passing.
When I think of Channel 7's present commentators, I truly hope someone like him comes again, because the ones there aren't fit for purpose.
I remember Clinton Grybas, I thought he had the makings of a legendary caller and I thought he would eventually take over the mantle from DC. Alas he is also no longer with us, taken far too soon.
On radio there is no better callers than Whately and Hudson IMO. There are no more annoying callers than Taylor and Brayshaw.
Clinton was very professional and a big supporter of his local basketball club and has his name on the wall in the stadium, nice down to earth bloke and agree he would have been a long time legendary caller.
"Like Ralph Fiennes, good in confined spaces"
I never got that one, obviously it refers to something I've never seen, or cannot remember! ;D
Refers to Fiennes having sex on a Qantas flight.
Barlow to Bateman, hawks attacking alphabetically
I remember hearing (since been confirmed) that he used to do a morning radio spot in wa, on a Friday morning. Callers would ring in and give him a line from a song to sneak into that weekends comms. This was before the internet and social media, so we, in the east were none the wiser. You would occasionally hear him drop a “like a virgin touched for the very first time” or “this looks like a job for me everybody just follow me” but didn’t realise why he was doing it. Gold