Bruce McAvaney Opens Up About the ‘Huge Personal Loss’ That Took Part of Him With It
While reflecting on the extraordinary Logies honour bearing his name, Bruce McAvaney’s thoughts turned to a close friend he had lost. His deeply personal admission revealed a connection that went far beyond the commentary box.
Bruce McAvaney has described the deeply personal loss that left him feeling as though a part of himself had disappeared too.
The legendary broadcaster was reflecting on the new Logies award carrying his name when the conversation turned to Dennis Cometti — his long-time commentary partner and one of his closest friends.
Cometti died in March at the age of 76, leaving Australian sport without one of its most recognisable voices. For Bruce, however, the loss went far beyond the broadcasting world.
A friendship that extended beyond the commentary box
Bruce and Dennis shared decades of sporting history, becoming one of Australian television’s most memorable commentary partnerships.
Their contrasting styles worked effortlessly together, but their relationship was built on much more than what viewers heard during AFL broadcasts.
“I still believe there was a little bit of me that went with Dennis,” Bruce told TV WEEK. “It was a huge personal loss.”
Bruce had previously described Dennis as his “ultimate teammate”, explaining that the two men understood the preparation, pressure and vulnerability that came with their profession.
They began as colleagues but gradually became trusted friends who supported one another through the demands of life in the public eye.
A permanent honour brings mixed emotions
Bruce’s reflection came as he processed another significant moment in his own career: the creation of the Bruce McAvaney Award for Most Popular Sports Presenter.
The 73-year-old admitted that having an award permanently named after him felt both overwhelming and humbling.
After 50 years in broadcasting, Bruce remains conscious of the many celebrated Australian commentators who came before him and questioned whether he deserved such lasting recognition.
He was also nominated for the inaugural award for his work covering the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo for SBS.
The interview was conducted before the Logies ceremony. Jelena Dokic ultimately received the award on August 16, ahead of fellow nominees Bruce, Danika Mason, Eddie McGuire, James Bracey and Ricky Ponting.
Retirement still is not part of the plan
Although Bruce has stepped away from regularly calling AFL matches, he does not consider his broadcasting career finished.
His enthusiasm for sport remains as strong as ever, as does the meticulous preparation that has defined his work for decades.
Bruce approaches every major event like an important examination, building a detailed collection of facts and figures that allows him to recognise the right moment for each piece of information.
For him, the clearest sign that it is time to retire would be losing the desire to prepare. That enthusiasm, he said, remains firmly intact.
The sporting moment he will never forget
Across a career filled with unforgettable events, one moment continues to stand above the rest: Cathy Freeman’s victory in the women’s 400 metres at the Sydney Olympics.
Bruce and his wife Annie already knew Cathy before her historic gold-medal performance and have remained in contact with her.
He considers it a privilege to have played even a small role in a race that carried enormous sporting, social and cultural meaning for Australia.
Health challenges and more personal loss
Bruce was diagnosed with lymphocytic leukaemia in 2014. He is now taking medication and feels fortunate that the condition has not stopped him from working or enjoying life with Annie and their adult children, Sam and Alexandra.
The couple also experienced another painful loss earlier this year when their beloved dog Frankie died.
Their regular walks along the beach had been one of the simplest and happiest parts of Bruce’s life away from broadcasting.
The award named in his honour has also brought his late parents, Betty and Roy, back into his thoughts. Bruce was only five when he told them he wanted to call the Melbourne Cup, and both encouraged him to follow that ambition.
Now, amid one of the greatest honours of his career, he wishes he could spend just one more hour with them.
The award may recognise Bruce McAvaney’s extraordinary contribution to Australian sport, but his reflections reveal something even more powerful: behind the unmistakable voice is a man carrying the memory of the people — and companion — who helped shape his life.