From two Aboriginal brothers living homeless on the streets of Perth, their young lives devastated as part of the Stolen Generation, comes a remarkable story against the backdrop of today’s AFL preliminary final at Optus Stadium.Peter and Neville Jetta will watch with pride as respective sons Lewis and Neville Jr play against each other in West Coast’s fight with Melbourne for a grand final berth.The 29-year-old has become a man for the biggest of football moments, kicking the freak goal against Adelaide that earned the Eagles a 2017 finals spot in the last game at Subiaco Oval and putting the team ahead of Collingwood in the dying minutes of a qualifying final win a fortnight ago.Enjoy unlimited access to thewest.com.au and everyday digital editions on any device.He also predicted he would light up the MCG in the 2012 grand final — as his Essendon hero Michael Long had done nearly 20 years earlier — and delivered with a scintillating run for Sydney that left Hawthorn star Cyril Rioli in his wake on the way to a famous flag.Just months after being booed by West Coast fans in 2015 for his Aboriginal war dance in defence of then-Sydney teammate Adam Goodes, Jetta faced scrutiny as a high-profile Eagles recruit at a time when his grandmother Myra was dying of cancer.And in April last year, when North Korean leader Kim Jong Un threatened a nuclear strike on the US, a front-page head-line screamed ‘Eagles axe Jetta’ above an image of the struggling star.“It was pretty hard for him when people thought axing Jetta was more important than nuclear war,” Peter Sr said.“People expected him to just come home and run amok, but no one knew my mum was dying and Lewie was worried about that and had a lot of problems,” Peter Sr said. “They swear and call him real dirty names and that’s hard when you know what we’re like.Lewis’ mother Fran admitted there were times she had deep concern for her son.If you’d like to view this content, please adjust yourTo find out more about how we use cookies, please see our“It’s hard because he’s a quiet boy and I get worried he’s not mentally there,” she said, adding he sometimes headed back to Bunbury when he needed some family healing. West Coast Eagles We had to jump the fence when no one was looking to go and watch the WAFL. In 2016 he was recognised as a finalist in the Jim … Western Bulldogs Snapchat Foxtel from Telstra “On game day, it’s game on and whatever happens, happens.”Lewis, left, and Neville after playing in the 2007 colts premiership for Bunbury.Lewis Jetta’s classic goal celebration two weeks ago.Fran and Peter Jetta, proud parents of West Coast player Lewis and aunt and uncle to Melbourne Demons player Neville Jetta.West Coast Eagle Lewis Jetta front and Neville far right.Neville in the middle, Lewis second from the right.Lewis Jetta of the Swans infamously outran Cyril Rioli in the 2012 Toyota Grand Final match against the Hawks.Stream WCC Basketball Lakeside Lightning v Rockingham Flames! Close 02:13 Neville Jetta has enjoyed some time with his family in isolation In September 2008 he was awarded the Mel Whinnen … So to see the two boys playing AFL, that’s a big achievement for Neville and myself. West Coast v Melbourne: The amazing story behind the success of cousins Lewis Jetta and Neville Jetta brandsauthority September 22, 2018 World News Leave a comment 403 Views From two Aboriginal brothers living homeless on the streets of Perth, their young lives devastated as part of the Stolen Generation, comes a remarkable story against the backdrop of today’s AFL … Updated April 23, 2015 — 8.49pm first published at 5.00pm. Telstra it’s a bit of a win-win for the family.”The pair’s Bunbury-based grandmother Melba Wallam also has boxing great-grandson Nathaniel “Cheeky” May preparing for a major bout in Belfast, while Lewis’ older brother Graham starred in Swan Districts’ 2010 WAFL premiership. Peter and Neville Jetta will watch with pride as respective sons Lewis and Neville Jr play against each other in West Coast’s fight with Melbourne for a grand final berth. If you’d like to view this content, please adjust yourTo find out more about how we use cookies, please see our“For all the hard things the indigenous population has gone through, when Lewis does his dances it gives us all a bit of pride.”The two fathers and two other brothers married four sisters from the Wallam family and they are virtually inseparable. Facebook While it felt “weird” to be playing in such a big match against his cousin, it was special for the family.“I’m just happy he’s finally got the chance to play finals,” he told Channel 7.“Both families are pretty proud, especially the oldies who have watched us grow up together. They gathered again yesterday for a family funeral in Bunbury.A mentally stronger Lewis has returned to his cheeky best this year and has played a critical father-like role helping Aboriginal teammates Liam Ryan and Willie Rioli.
Instagram Telstra TV Box Office Jetta was drafted by Melbourne with the 51st selection in the 2008 national draft. Youtube Published on