Dennis Cometti has his favourite footy memories but legendary caller says they’re in the past

HUNDREDS of thousands of AFL fans may crave his return but Dennis Cometti says he’s loving retirement. And the former Friday night favourite has revealed his favourite lines calling the footy.

Dennis Cometti was the guest at the Carbine Lunch. Picture. Phil Hillyard

THE hundreds of thousands of AFL fans craving the return of Dennis Cometti to the national broadcast will be disappointed to know there will be no comeback.

The most popular caller of a generation says he’s happily retired from the big stage and loving life at home in Perth.

The Carbine Club this week paid tribute to the much-loved commentator with a lunch in Sydney attended by some of the greats of the game including the player of the century Leigh Matthews and Sydney and West Coast coaches John Longmire and Adam Simpson.

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Cometti reckons he’s spent more than four years of his life in the media staying in hotels.

“I don’t miss it at all,” Cometti told The Daily Telegraph.

“I hated the travel. It was like Sunday night when you were dreading going to school the next day. Wednesday was that day for me that I really didn’t look forward to, having to travel to footy. That probably set in about 18 months before I finally did go. Once you feel that way you are probably better off out of it.”

Dennis Cometti was the guest at a Carbine Club lunch. Picture. Phil Hillyard

But it wasn’t all doom and gloom from the West Australian as he reflected on his five decades in media which started as a disc jockey on Perth radio.

A lifelong love of Aussie rules was at the heart of what he enjoyed most about his profession.

“The thing I loved the most about it was my association with footy,” Cometti said.

“I did a lot of cricket, more than 100 Tests, but my love was footy. I grew up with it as a supporter, a player and as a coach.”

Known for his brilliant combination of wisdom and wit, Cometti also revealed his personal favourite lines.

“The one that gets the most traction is the Liberatore line about going in optimistically and coming out misty optically,” Cometti said.

“My favourite is one that was spontaneous, yes I didn’t write this one down. It was an Adelaide game and someone grabbed Andrew McLeod and then someone else grabbed him and it was ‘Hey, you, get off McLeod’. I love the Stones and it was so good I stopped commentating.”

Cometti argues sport is often taken too seriously and that humour is a vital part of calling sport.

“When you go to the footy unless it’s a grand final and you really have a vested interest you have a lot of fun,” Cometti said.

“You go with your mates and there is this byplay. You make fun of the players, you make fun of each other so that fits perfectly into the coverage. You have to shut up if there’s a kick to win the grand final but you feel comfortable putting them (laughs) in particularly in bad games.”

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Originally published as Dennis Cometti has his favourite footy memories but legendary caller says they’re in the past