Former Kyabram and Melbourne footballer Shane Fitzsimmons had a lot to do with Cometti during his days playing football with West Perth Football Club in the Western Australian Football League after his VFL days with the Demons.
Shane spent three seasons in the early 1980s under Cometti, who was coaching West Perth at the time.
He couldn’t speak highly enough of the much loved and respected sports commentator, the ultimate master of his trade on the Australian sports scene.
Shane even went as far as to say Cometti was the best football coach he had played under in his career, which included 63 games with Melbourne Football Club and 92 with West Perth in the WAFL, which included a club best and fairest award in 1980.
‘‘In my career I played with teams coached by Bob Skilton, Ian Ridley, Carl Dittterich and Graeme Campbell, and I really thought Dennis was better than all of them,“ Shane said.
“I remember when I went to West Perth to play after my days at Melbourne I was walking into the West Perth rooms for an early season training season and this guy was heading out. When he saw me he approached me and seemed to know all about my footy history. I didn’t have a clue who he was.
‘‘Then he announced himself and told me he was in for the coaching job at West Perth, which he got.
‘‘He was a great communicator and just a great guy. I really loved my time under him at West Perth.
‘‘His death has hit me hard because he was such a great guy.
‘‘I didn’t even know he was sick. I was planning a trip back to Perth this year and intended to catch up with him and some teammates from West Perth from my days there but I don’t know whether I will still do it now.“
Lenny’s cricket career is taking off
The son of former Kyabram Fire Brigade cricketer Will Power is showing some promising skills in the sport.
Barooga’s Lenny Power, 16, has been selected to tour Sri Lanka to play in the Global Cricket Academy League.
Former NSW batsman Daniel Smith, who still holds the NSW highest one-day score for NSW at 179 not out, selected Lenny and two Corowa brothers, Joe and Eli Lavis, to join the Global Cricket Academy League.
Lenny’s father, Will, played cricket for the Kyabram Fire Brigade Cricket Club in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Being from the border area, Lenny is eligible for NSW and Victorian representative teams and has ambitions of playing professionally one day.
His favourite player is Steve Smith.
Opportunity for young footballers
If you are under 15 and would like to play football this season, here’s your big chance.
Lancaster Football Club is seeking more players for its under-15 side, which is being coached again by the club’s popular president, Michael Mott.
‘‘We’d love to hear from any under -15 players who would like to have a go with us,’’ Mott said this week.
Mott can be contacted on 0419 203 773.
Gift winner to appear
Katamatite has lured its most famous sportsman to return for its 150th anniversary celebrations on Sunday week (March 21).
Its 1995 Stawell Gift winner Glenn Crawford, and he will be present to assist in the running of inaugural Katamatite Sprint to be run over 150 metres, coinciding with the small town’s years of existence.
Moments after winning his heat of the Stawell Gift by four metres in 1995, Crawford was sensationally disqualified for alleged “inconsistent performances” due to an unsubmitted run at Aberfeldie Park earlier in the year.
“I didn’t submit the time as I didn’t think anything of it, and fortunately for me, the same official from Aberfeldie was at the Stawell Gift and could verify that. It was a bit traumatic actually because I thought I was out.”
The locals are upbeat about Crawford’s return.
‘‘It’s not every day a town our size gets a Stawell Gift winner at their recreation reserve,’’ said Charlie Hodge, one of the organisers of reunion.
The inaugural Katamatite Sprint will be a highlight in a full day of festivities at the Katamatite Recreation Reserve, including children’s activities, displays and other entertainment.
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