Jetta makes welcome return to WA

Come Monday many new faces will appear at West Coast Eagles’ first full team training session, but most eyes will be on one of Bunbury’s own.

Lewis Jetta is one of the most exciting acquisitions by the Eagles in this year’s trade period and has fans across the country excited to see him bring his X-Factor to the club.

But for the 26-year-old, the decision to leave the Sydney Swans and return to his home State was all because of family.

Jetta and his partner Jessica have a young family, with Lewis Junior, 4, and Daisy, 2, their priority.

The Carey Park product said the opportunity to raise his two children among their cousins and have an upbringing similar to his, was the driving force behind him returning to WA.

“I have two beautiful children and time is flying really quickly,” he said.

“Me and my partner Jessie thought about our parents and brothers and sisters missing out on seeing the kids.”

Jetta’s story is your classic AFL fairytale.

After being overlooked in the 2007 AFL Draft as an 18-year-old, Jetta returned from Swan Districts to the

South West and played for Bridgetown in the Lower South West Football League to play alongside his four brothers and his father.

Next season, a drive to succeed at the top level had him return to the Steel Blue Oval and the Black Ducks, and it paid dividends.

Starring for WA in a State game in 2009 against South Australia, Jetta put his name on the lips of recruiters across the country.

Sydney picked him up that year with pick 14 in the draft and he forged a career based on lightning speed across the ground.

But after 127 games and a premiership in 2012 with the Swans, Jetta has returned home to give back to the community which gave him so much.

Jetta said the South West had an abundance of talent in the region and he hoped to influence it in the future.

“When I am at my old school I pop in and say hello to all the young indigenous kids and all the non-indigenous kids,” he said.

“I am a role model to all the young kids coming through in the South West.

“It just shows what a little bit of hard work can do for you.

“There is plenty of talent in Bunbury and if you really want it and get the right support, you can do it.”

For the full interview see Thursday’s South Western Times.