JETTA, Leroy

Leroy Jetta was taken as a priority selection in the 2006 National Draft from South Fremantle in the WAFL.

He had twice been selected for the Under 18 All-Australian team and was a graduate of the AIS/AFL Academy.

He was lightning quick, with loads of skill, fine vision and typical Indigenous flair. He was also a great tackler.

He made his debut in Round 1, 2007, and played the first four games before a groin injury sidelined him for the rest of the season.

He had an outstanding 2008 pre-season, recording some of his best results, including the Club's equal fastest 20m sprint time of 2.75 seconds. He played 18 games in his second season and kicked 11 goals, his best being three against Brisbane at Docklands in Round 15.

An injury to his thumb in a 2010 practice match sidelined him until Round 8 and he began to doubt his future in the AFL. He was leaning towards a return to WA when a chat to coach James Hird changed his mind. It was a good decision and the next two seasons were his best.

He played every game in 2011 and was given a two-year extension in 2012, but then found it hard to recapture his earlier form and he opted to leave Essendon at the end of 2014 to seek further opportunities as a free agent.

He was not picked up by another AFL club and he was unable to play in 2016 due to the Supplements saga, but he later played with Peel Thunder in the WAFL and in 2018 played for Pinjarra in the WA Amateur Football League.