Neville Jetta Biography

Neville Jetta announces hire retirement from AFL football.

"I'm super proud of my journey as a player, one that has had many ups and downs, and I'm forever grateful for the opportunity to live out my childhood dream and help our club be great again," he said.

"To every single person who has been a part of my journey, thank you for making it such a special one."

Neville Jetta is ruled out for the rest of the 2019 season as he prepares for further surgery on his troublesome knee.

"He's obviously come back after a long knee rehab and he's still getting some continual swelling in that knee, so we'll go in and get that tidied up," Demons coach Simon Goodwin said.

"It's something that's been an issue for him the whole year, so we just want to make sure he's 100 per cent right to go and we feel it's a bit unfair putting him out there with a swollen knee."

Neville Jetta is set to miss eight to ten weeks after requiring surgery for a torn meniscus he suffered in the Demons' 40-point loss to St Kilda.

Neville Jetta has been elevated to the club's leadership group, with the Demons deciding to retain their co-captaincy model for 2019.

Jetta, 29, replaces veteran defender Jordan Lewis in the group, while Max Gawn will serve as a key leadership group member again.

Midfielders Nathan Jones and Jack Viney will continue as a co-skippers, a role they have held since 2017, in the four-man leadership team.

"I have been fortunate to see Neville's growth as a player and role model first hand over the last 10 years," Melbourne football manager Josh Mahoney said.

"He represents all of the characteristics that we want in a Melbourne person and we are glad that he has been recognised in this way."

Neville Jetta receives the Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award for 2018 in recognition of his work supporting indigenous youth through various school-based programs.

He also is an ambassador for Red Cross and Headspace.

The award, named in honour of the late Melbourne champion and president, is presented annually to an AFL or AFLW player who makes a genuine commitment to community causes.

Neville Jetta turns his back on free agency after signing a new three-year deal with Melbourne to remain at the club until the end of 2021.

"We are delighted that Nev has agreed to a new three-year extension," Demons football manager Josh Mahoney said.

"Nev has been a consistent performer for us, for a long period now and is a great example of resilience and maximising opportunities."

Paddy McCartin has experienced fogginess and nausea after suffering whiplash from a clash of heads with Melbourne's Neville Jetta.

"The first knock was fine and he passed the concussion test. The second knock left him feeling a bit nauseous and a bit of a foggy feeling and given it was late in the game, we took a conservative approach," St Kilda head physiotherapist Andrew Wallis said.

Ben Brown, Robbie Tarrant, Jack Gunston, Neville Jetta, Luke Shuey and Kade Simpson are new additions to the squad who will represent Australia in the International Rules Series.

Geelong star and domestic violence campaigner Jimmy Bartel is one of four players named as finalists for the 2016 Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award.

Gold Coast veteran Jarrod Harbrow, Port Adelaide defender Jack Hombsch and Melbourne backman Neville Jetta have also been selected after being nominated by their respective clubs.

Neville Jetta is adapting well to Melbourne's more attacking gamestyle in 2016.

"When 'Roosy' (coach Paul Roos) came on board we were a bit more man-on-man, now we're able to attack a bit more and I've got more of a licence to join in and get the ball moving forward," Jetta said.

"I've got more confidence in myself to be able to not only play on the small forwards, but really make them defend me when I get up the ground."

Neville Jetta rejects increasing interest from rival clubs and re-signs with the Demons for the next two seasons.

Jetta, who was due to fall out of contract at the end of this season, has committed to Melbourne until the end of the 2018 season.

Rival clubs are circling Melbourne free agent Neville Jetta as he hits career-best form as a small defender.

Jetta is averaging 15 disposals and 3.8 tackles a game this season and has locked down the defensive role with a string of solid performances.

"He's always been a good defensive player," Melbourne coach Paul Roos said.

"Something we've worked really hard on is offence and it is starting to come together.

"Nev [Jetta] is really starting to worry the opposition with his step and his ability to get out into space and change direction for us but it is a work in progress and something we need to keep working on."

Neville Jetta has been cleared of serious neck damage but Melbourne will send him for more tests before declaring him fit for Sunday's clash with Carlton.

Jetta, 25, was injured in a heavy knock in the second quarter of Sunday's game against the Western Bulldogs, with the Demons sending him to hospital after he told the club's medical staff he was experiencing pins and needles in his neck.

"At half time 'Nev' reported some symptoms which were concerning to our medical staff relating to neck/spinal damage," Demons football manager Josh Mahoney said.

"We immediately subbed him from the game and he was sent to Epworth hospital for testing.

"Initial scans last night (Sunday) cleared Nev of any damage, he will however have some more tests that we need to consider before declaring him available for selection."

Melbourne is confident Neville Jetta will not have any lasting effects from ongoing concussion issues, despite the lock-down small defender missing more than a month of football.

"When [Jetta] saw the specialist last week he was really positive and said once we get to that four-week period he'd be right to go," Melbourne coach Paul Roos said.

"It's just based on the caution the AFL and the doctors have for concussion.

"We were more than happy to give him that time off. He was pushing last week but he's ready to go. He'll be fit and healthy."

Neville Jetta has been rewarded for his outstanding bounce-back season with a two-year contract extension and a permanent upgrade to the club's senior list.

The new deal will secure Jetta's stay at the Demons until the end of 2016.

"His form this year has been outstanding and he plays exactly the way we want him to play. He's competitive and he has become very reliable down back and has played on a number of very good players and beat them," Melbourne football manager Josh Mahoney said.

"We look forward to him improving even further after another good pre-season and we think he'll be an important part of our backline moving forward."

Neville Jetta has been one of Melbourne's biggest improver's in 2014 after being elevated off the rookie list for the injured Jack Trengove.

Champion Data has credited Jetta with conceding just four goals against his direct opponents in 518 minutes of playing time over that seven-week block.

"I put massive pressure on myself to come in and not let it slip," Jetta said.

"My role is more typified now. Early in my career I wasn't going out to play with a simple mindset like I am now."

Neville Jetta, Tom Gillies, Tom Couch, Troy Davis and Michael Evans have all inked new deals for 2013 with Melbourne.

Unlucky Demon Neville Jetta will miss 12 to 16 weeks following surgery due to an ankle injury sustained during a VFL practice match between Casey Scorpions and Box Hill.

Liam Jurrah, Jamie Bennell and Neville Jetta have committed to the Demons for two more years.

"All three boys - Neville, Jamie and Liam - are all exciting players who bring a real vibrancy to our playing list," Melbourne list manager Tim Harrington said.

"We've already seen Liam's mercurial talent, but Neville is extremely strong in his defensive work and Jamie has shown he can play in a variety of roles already - down back, up forward and we think there is some scope for Jamie and Neville in the future to play in the midfield."