Neville Jetta signs two-year contract extension and promotion from rookie list with career-best season as small defender

MELBOURNE defender Neville Jetta has signed a two-year contract extension 12 months after his career looked destined for the scrap heap.

Round 15: Western Bulldogs v Melbourne AFLR1514 Neville Jetta tackles Luke Dahlhaus Picture: Wayne Ludbey

THE Round 23 Sunday twilight fixture is reserved for the AFL’s irrelevant.

But when Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs met on the final day of last year’s home and away season, it was the defining moment in Demon Neville Jetta’s 54-game career.

RE-BORN JETTA RE-SIGNS WITH DEES

With his AFL future hanging by a thread and the new coach watching on, Jetta — playing just his fifth game for the year — kept dangerous Dog Luke Dahlhaus goalless.

Paul Roos saw enough that night to offer Jetta the very last spot on Melbourne’s list and less than 12 months on, with a number of his Melbourne teammates fighting for their futures, Jetta has a new two-year contract.

Why?

Since that cool September night, the 24-year-old from Bunbury in Western Australia has transformed himself into one of the stingiest small defenders in the league.

Neville Jetta bursts away from Chad Wingard. Picture: Simon Cross

Manning the likes of Eddie Betts, Chad Wingard, Jamie Elliott, Paul Puopolo and Dahlhaus, Jetta has conceded only 10 goals in 13 games.

Remarkably, since winning promotion to the senior list in Round 5, Champion Data reports Jetta has been involved in 16 one-on-one defensive contests and lost just twice.

“I’ve always known I’m pretty strong in the one-on-one contests and I’ve always backed myself in to win the contest or even half it ... I’ll take that,” Jetta laughed upon hearing those stats.

“It’s amazing what a year can do,” he told the Herald Sun.

“It was about me getting fit and getting confidence in my body and then going out and playing my role in the team.

“My mindset from the time he’s (Roos) come in and from the time I got my role, I’ve tried to become one of the best small backman in the AFL.

“He’s really backed me and given me that confidence to play the role within the team and made my mindset a lot simpler.”

Neville Jetta is pursuit of cousin Lewis Jetta in Round 6. Picture: Colleen Petch.

Upon being delisted Jetta was told to improve his fitness and under the guidance of high performance manager Dave Misson and backline coach Jade Rawlings, he committed to extra running and boxing sessions.

“Nev’s had a super year, really,” said Rawlings.

“I think he’s a shining example to mid-tier players who are on the fringes that with hard work and commitment to his career, how quickly it can turn around.

“Neville is a competitor. A genuine competitor and a good person. I think when you’ve got good values and good character it does buy you a bit of time.

“It was on a knife’s edge for Neville at the end of last year.”

Jetta rates his job on Betts in Melbourne’s dramatic win over the Crows in Round 7, as the high point of his season.

But, what happened the week after the Adelaide Oval triumph was a low point.

Melbourne defender Neville Jetta & daughter Nalani 3 Picture: Wayne Ludbey

His family and friends were the victims of racial abuse from a Bulldogs fan at the MCG, prompting Jetta to express his hurt and anger via a strongly worded statement.

“It’s great to see Adam Goodes and other guys who have gone before, do what they did, because they gave me the confidence to speak up,” said Jetta reflecting on the incident.

“Hopefully the footy world is better for it and if anything does happen again, I’ll probably go harder.”

Jetta is keen to pursue indigenous mentoring post football and one day per week he steps into enemy territory at the Punt Road based Korin Gamadji Institute (KGI) and assists the Laguntas football program, along with Tiger Dustin Martin.

“He’s pretty quiet, he’s probably even quieter than me, but once you get to know him he’s a really good bloke and I enjoy working with him,” Jetta said of Martin.

“The first time it was pretty daunting walking through the front door with all these Richmond people walking around, but now its just another workplace.

“I know everyone now and I’ve got some good relationships and it’s just like walking into the Meblbourne Football Club, but there’s a Tiger on top.”

Away from footy Jetta’s young family is his focus, he and wife Samantha, have a daughter, Nalani, who is three years old and first into the fruit and lollies in the Melbourne change rooms — win, lose or draw.

“She’s been great on and off the field for me and she definitely puts a smile on my face and taught me what life is about.”

If Nalani is anything like her dad, good luck wrestling the lollies from her grasp.

Originally published as Neville Jetta signs two-year contract extension and promotion from rookie list with career-best season as small defender