Jet’s star set to rise

Lewis Jetta has been called several things in the past week — mercurial, the X-factor, even the key to Saturday’s AFL grand final.

But to Francis and Peter Jetta, he’s a son.

The family crowded around the TV to watch Lewis play a starring role during Sydney’s preliminary final win over Collingwood on Friday night.

Jetta booted three goals, including a breathtaking first-quarter solo effort in which he dashed from the half-back line to the top of the goalsquare to tear the heart out of the Magpies.

The near 100m run has since become famous but his parents this week revealed they had not been shocked by the extraordinary athletic feat.

‘‘We knew it would happen, it was just a matter of when,’’ Francis said.

‘‘He surprised us with how early (in the game) it was.

‘‘By the time he had finished the run we were all just crowded around the TV shouting and running. We ran the distance with him.’’

‘‘I knew he had it in him to run down the wing,’’ Peter said.

‘‘When he kicked it I was pretty happy. I was dancing, I’m glad no one filmed me.’’

Despite Sydney heading into Saturday’s grand final as underdogs against Hawthorn, Jetta looms as the Swans’ trump card in the contest.

His explosive pace and sheer instinctive brilliance have proved to be matchwinners before.

His family have taken it upon themselves to keep his feet on the ground in grand final week, starting with a phone call the morning after Sydney’s heady preliminary final triumph.

‘I just told him to get out there and do his natural thing,’’ Peter said.

‘‘Just pretend you’re at home with the boys running amok on the oval.’’

Despite the electric lounge-room atmosphere last week, the Jetta family will have better seats this weekend when they make the pilgrimage to the home of football to watch it live.

Francis said she had tried to not build up the fixture too much, but admitted it had been a nervous time for the family.

‘‘I wanted to keep him calm, but I just said Lewis, ‘It’s all about what you can do. You can be the game-winner for Sydney’,’’ Francis said.

‘‘I said just do what you do normally, let us have all the excitement and build it all up.’’