Dennis Cometti AM honoured with State Memorial Service

• Public invited to pay tribute to Dennis Cometti AM
• Legendary Western Australian commentator passed away last month
• State Memorial Service to be held at Optus Stadium on 4 May 2026

Western Australians will have the opportunity to pay their respects to legendary sports broadcaster Dennis Cometti, with a State Memorial Service to be held on Monday, May 4 2026.

The service will be held at the River View Rooms at Optus Stadium at 2.30pm and will be open to the public.

Dennis Cometti was a Western Australian icon and one of the most widely respected voices in Australian sport.

Born in Geraldton in 1949, football was in Dennis' blood as he rose through junior football ranks to play in the WAFL for West Perth, a club he subsequently returned to coach in 1982.

However, it would be sports broadcasting where he would make his greatest mark, with a television and radio career spanning almost 50 years. In one of the most defining moments in WA football history, he called the West Coast Eagles' maiden AFL premiership in 1992.

Dennis' remarkable versatility was also evident in his coverage of Test cricket and his commentary during the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games. At the conclusion of his TV broadcasting career in 2016, he continued to call games locally on radio, until 2021 - with Perth's Grand Final at Optus Stadium the last AFL game he called.

Dennis received many accolades during his career. The Optus Stadium Media Centre was named in his honour in 2018, and he was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Australian Sports Commission Media Awards that same year.

In 2019, Dennis was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia, for significant service to broadcast media as a sports presenter, and to the community. He was also inducted into the Football Australia Hall of Fame in 2020 and the WA Football Hall of Fame in 2021.

Registration to attend will open here https://www.wa.gov.au/Dennis-Cometti on Tuesday, 7 April at 12pm. Attendees are asked to register their attendance by Tuesday, 21 April.

Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:

"Dennis Cometti was a Western Australian legend, and one of the most widely respected voices in sport.

"It is a privilege to hold a State Memorial Service in his honour - and give Western Australians the opportunity to say goodbye.

"This will be a fitting tribute and I encourage the public to come and celebrate the life of Dennis Cometti."