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Jetta reinvigorated as a leader at Swan DistrictsWednesday, July 16, 2014 - 6:20 PM - by Chris Pike

GRAHAM Jetta is enjoying his football with Swan Districts as much as at any other point in his career as he prepares for his 100th match this Saturday as he revels in a role as a leader for a young and exciting black-and-whites group.

The 27-year-old veteran now of 99 games as well a premiership and state player has been close to ending his WAFL career a couple of times, but after originally coming up to Perth in 2009 to support younger brother Lewis, he stayed on in 2014 to help 20-year-old brother Brandon find his feet at Swan Districts.

He takes his position as an experienced, successful WAFL player seriously as a role model for not only his brother, but other Indigenous players trying to find their way at the highest level possible.

"I've basically been thinking about finishing up because of work commitments, but my younger brother came up so I said I would stay there to help him out," Jetta said.

"He is sitting in the reserves at the moment, but he has given me a spark just to train with him and I'm trying to show him what it takes to be a league footballer so hopefully he can cement a spot. It's not just him either, but all the other Aboriginal boys playing as well.

"It's important they realise that you can still have a good WAFL career without making AFL, and you're not only setting yourself up but you are setting up for a lot of other Noongar and Aboriginal boys around WA to come and play WAFL footy."

After a host of veteran and quality Swans players moved on from the end of the 2013 first semi-final loss to East Perth and the start of 2014, Jetta decided to stick around for at least one more season and now based on how the year is panning out personally and for the team, he'll at least be playing on now in 2015.

"Once some of the older boys left it was us loyal boys I reckon who stayed around and we didn’t want to see the club go down, so we sort of stayed around to help these young blokes get up and I guess that's the key this year," he said.

"We just wanted to see the club not go down but also flourish with the young boys coming through so that when we do leave there is something there for them to carry on when we do eventually leave as well.

"At the start of pre-season I sort of hesitated about playing on or not but since doing all the training, running and recovery with all the young boys, they make it enjoyable to come and they tease you and keep you young.

"I'm enjoying it and I actually think I have a couple of years left in me now. These young blokes are actually good for us older boys and we enjoy being around each other, and giving each other a bit of a hard time."

Jetta has also noticed a significant change in the attitude, passion and dedication to the club of the Swan Districts players in 2014.

Based on sheer talent, he might have played in teams with more but every single member of the side in 2014 is fully committed to the cause.

And that is whether it's senior players like Tallan Ames, Justin Simpson, Ryan Davis, Tim Geappen, Tony Notte and Matt Riggio, or the emerging Blaine Boekhorst, Adam Faulkner, Nathan Blakely, Connor Blakely, Alex Howard, Ricky Cary, Brent Latch or Aidan Anderson.

"About seven or eight of us older boys are just gelling together with the young blokes. We're not just leading them, but they are leading us as well so everyone is having an input. A lot of the young boys are stepping up which is giving us new ideas and we are all working well together, and playing good footy with each other," Jetta said.

"After that loss to East Perth in our first game, we have gelled well together, our training has been good and everyone is getting on with each other. Everyone likes to have a yarn after training and every Thursday after training all the boys go upstairs and eat pasta together, and we mingle around and have a good yarn with each other. That then reflects on the field when we play good together."

Jetta is averaging over 18 possessions a game so far this season running out of defence in a Swan Districts team that currently sits in second position on the ladder following a last up win over West Perth and heading into this Saturday's clash with Claremont at the Showground.

Speaking of that win over West Perth, it was also on the same day that the WAFL celebrated NAIDOC Round and it was a special day for Jetta and his teammate Kirk Ugle.

"It means a lot. Me and Kirky have been talking about it for a couple of weeks and we wanted to perform big in NAIDOC Round. There were a lot of young Indigenous boys and Noongars and Yamatji's and everyone came down to watch the game," Jetta said.

"I found that really good and it lifted my spirits running out there and seeing that. I reckon it's a really big day for us boys and we get up for it. It's similar to Anzac Day or days like that, it's a big occasion and the boys lift for it and it's great to see the WAFL show respect for the day."