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Neville Jetta
Neville Jetta 2019.5.jpg
Jetta with Melbourne in July 2019
Personal information
Full name Neville Jetta
Nickname(s) Nev
Date of birth (1990-02-12) 12 February 1990 (age 35)
Place of birth Bunbury, Western Australia
Original team Swan Districts (WAFL)
Draft No. 51, 2008 national draft
Debut Round 1, 2009, Melbourne
v. North Melbourne, at MCG
Position(s) Defender
Career highlights
  • Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award: 2018

Neville Jetta (born February 12, 1990) is a former Australian rules footballer. He played for the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Today, he is the main coach for the Fitzroy Stars Football Club in the Northern Football Netball League (NFNL).

Playing Career Highlights

Starting in the AFL

Neville Jetta was chosen by the Melbourne Football Club in the 2008 national draft. He was the 51st player picked. Before joining the AFL, he played for Swan Districts in the West Australian Football League (WAFL). In September 2008, he won the Mel Whinnen Medal. This award is given to the best player in the Swans colts grand final.

Neville and another player, Jamie Bennell, both came from Bunbury. They even went to the same primary school. Neville is also related to other AFL players. He is the cousin of Lewis Jetta and a distant cousin of Leroy Jetta.

Neville and Jamie Bennell both played their first AFL game together. This happened in the very first round of the 2009 AFL season.

Overcoming Challenges

During the 2013 AFL season, Neville didn't play as much for the Demons. He only played five games that year. He was having trouble finding a regular spot on the team. Because of this, he was removed from the team at the end of the season.

However, a new coach, Paul Roos, gave him another chance. Neville was picked again as a rookie player for the 2014 AFL season.

In 2014, Neville was moved to the main team. This happened because some players, like Jesse Hogan and Mitch Clark, were injured. Neville then became a key player in Melbourne's defense. He was known for being a great small defender. He successfully stopped many skilled small forwards from scoring.

Community Work and Retirement

In 2018, Neville Jetta received a special award. It was the Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award. He earned it for his amazing work helping Indigenous youth. He supported them through school programs. He also worked as an ambassador for groups like Red Cross and Headspace.

Neville was the first player from the Melbourne Football Club to win this award. It is named after the famous Melbourne player, Jim Stynes.

Neville Jetta announced he was retiring from the AFL on September 27, 2021.

Coaching Career

After he stopped playing, Neville Jetta started coaching. He joined Collingwood as a development coach. This means he helped younger players improve their skills.

On October 8, 2024, it was announced that he would become the head coach. He is now the senior men's coach for the Fitzroy Stars Football Club. He started this role for the 2025 Northern Football Netball League (NFNL) season.

Personal Life

Neville Jetta is married to his partner, Samantha. They got married on October 20, 2013. They have a daughter and a son.

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