Lewis Jetta reaching out to Melbourne cousin Neville Jetta after pair’s preliminary final clash

WEST Coast players are living every footballer’s dream as they prepare for an AFL Grand Final. But Sam Landsberger reports Lewis Jetta still has one Demon firmly in his mind.

Lewis Jetta and Liam Ryan share a moment at Eagles training this week. Pic: Getty Images

WEST Coast livewire Lewis Jetta has reached out to defeated cousin Neville Jetta every day since their preliminary final stoush.

The boys have long completed pre-season running sessions together in Bunbury and remain very close despite playing on opposite sides of the country.

Neville Jetta was on Monday night awarded the Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award for his work with indigenous youth, helping out at the Parkville Juvenile Justice Centre, the Melbourne Indigenous Transition School and at the Red Cross.

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Lewis watched Neville receive the accolade from the Eagles’ low-key Brownlow Medal function at Crown Perth.

“I gave him a text this morning, yesterday and also after the game. We just told each other how proud we are,” Lewis Jetta told the Herald Sun.

Relatives of Neville Jetta show the emotion of last week’s loss. Pic: Michael Klein

“We’re very close. Even though we played against each other we’re very close. We’re so proud of each other for both playing in the finals.

“I know he’ll bounce back, because he works so hard.

“Ever since he’s been drafted he and myself do pre-seasons together in Bunbury. So every time he gets the chance to come down we flick each other a text and do some running.

“Before you know it his brother and my other four brothers (come) and we’ve got a little group happening.

“That’s how we grew up together, we train together and now play against each other.

“But we still love each other, he’s my first cousin and we still look after each other.

“It’s running where you finish and it’s like, ‘Oh my goodness’ or you get to the start and it’s like, ‘Yep, this is going to hurt’. That type of running.”

Jetta said he was “as relaxed as Mark LeCras’ board shorts” chasing his second AFL premiership from his third Grand Final.

Lewis Jetta feels for his cousin. Pic: Getty Images

Nev Jetta chases Liam Ryan during the preliminary final loss. Pic: AAP

The speedster played in Sydney’s 2012 triumph against Hawthorn as well as the Swans’ 2014 loss to the Hawks.

Jetta, 29, lit up Perth Stadium with a goal celebration channelling soccer giant Cristiano Ronaldo in the qualifying final.

It was Jetta’s first goal for 2018.

“As you know I’m playing down back, so it’s hard to run down and sneak off and kick a goal,” he said.

“But if I do get that chance maybe (I’ll do a) Ronaldo or MJ or Kobe Bryant celebration. I did it once against Port Adelaide here (Subiaco) last year and we lost that game.

“But it was a good little moment. I was watching YouTube basically, looking at soccer goals and trick shots and that. I thought this was the moment and this could get us over the line — and it did.”

Jetta celebrates a goal against Collingwood in the qualifying final. Pic: AFL Media