Bruce McAvaney pays emotional tribute to Dennis Cometti at state memorial service

Key facts

• Dennis Cometti died in March 2025 aged 76 after a 50-year broadcasting career.
• The state memorial service was held at Optus Stadium in Perth on Monday.
• Bruce McAvaney spoke at the service, recalling how often the public asked about Cometti.
• Premier Roger Cook described Cometti as 'one of the greatest orators in Australian history'.
• McAvaney, 72, is preparing to cover the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July.
• McAvaney's parents, Betty and Roy, left school at 13; his mother called it the saddest day of her life.
• McAvaney's great-great-grandparents owned land in Adelaide where he filmed 'Who Do You Think You Are?'.

A state farewell for a broadcasting legend

Dennis Cometti, whose voice defined Australian sports commentary for five decades, was honoured at a state memorial service on Monday at Optus Stadium in Perth. The venue held deep significance: it was where Cometti called his last game, the 2021 AFL Grand Final between Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs. Politicians, footballers, and former media colleagues joined Cometti's family to pay their respects. Among them was Bruce McAvaney, who called alongside Cometti for much of his time at Channel Seven.

McAvaney's tribute: a nation's connection

McAvaney told the gathering that Cometti's impact reached far beyond sport. 'How many times have I been asked about Dennis, or someone's grabbed me in the street in the last eight weeks and wanted to talk to me about him,' he said. 'The commentator, the bloke, what was he like, but they always wanted to tell me what he did for them.' WA Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas, a former media colleague, noted that many had asked what Cometti would have thought of the event. 'He would've wanted us all to play it down and be very low key, and then he would've called me in and said "Bas, make sure they make a fuss",' Zempilas said.

Premier's words: 'one of the greatest orators'

Premier Roger Cook delivered a speech that struggled to capture Cometti's stature. 'How does one begin to honour, with words, one of the greatest orators in Australian history?' Cook asked. He described Cometti's voice as evoking 'a sense of comfort and familiarity that we all share', and said Cometti had 'enriched the lives of Australians'. Cook added that Cometti was 'an exemplary Western Australian. A true WA legend.' Former West Perth captain Les Fong also spoke, recalling his memories of playing under Cometti when he was Falcons coach.

McAvaney's own journey: family roots and reflection

While filming an episode of Who Do You Think You Are?, McAvaney discovered that he was standing on land once owned by his great-great-great-grandparents on his father's side. The moment was deeply moving for the commentator, whose parents, Betty and Roy, struggled financially. 'My mother and father didn't have enough money to have their own home when I was a child,' McAvaney told TV WEEK. 'With my sister and brother, we lived all our lives in a [Housing] Trust home.' He said the discovery of family land was 'very significant' and that the show brought his parents 'back to life' for him. His mother died in 2004, his father in 2009.

A work ethic forged in hardship

McAvaney, now 72 and preparing for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, attributes his relentless work ethic to his parents. 'Mum and Dad left school at 13. My mother said it was the saddest day of her life,' he recalled. 'They were both very bright but not well educated. Dad went to war, came back and studied accountancy. We lived in a tiny, tiny house and my father used to study at night on the kitchen table.' His mother was his greatest supporter. 'She always said: "You can only do your best."' McAvaney said the show gave him the 'greatest gift' of feeling 'incredibly close' to his parents again.

A legacy that endures

Cometti's death in March at age 76 closed a career that began in the 1970s and spanned radio and television, most notably at Channel Seven. His distinctive turns of phrase and calm authority made him a household name, even among those who did not follow sport. McAvaney, who has covered Australia's biggest sporting events for more than 45 years, continues to work. As he reflects on his own past and the loss of his colleague, the tributes at Optus Stadium underscored the rare place Cometti held in the nation's affections.

The bottom line

• Dennis Cometti was honoured at a state memorial service at Optus Stadium, where he called his last AFL Grand Final in 2021.
• Bruce McAvaney delivered a tribute highlighting how often the public asked about Cometti, reflecting his broad cultural impact.
• Premier Roger Cook called Cometti 'one of the greatest orators in Australian history' and a 'true WA legend'.
• McAvaney's appearance on Who Do You Think You Are? revealed his family's history of land ownership and financial struggle.
• McAvaney credits his parents, who left school at 13, for his work ethic; he is still active at 72, preparing for the Commonwealth Games.
• The memorial brought together politicians, footballers, and media figures, demonstrating Cometti's reach across Australian society.