FORMER Essendon forward Leroy Jetta will join Peel Thunder next year.
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Jetta parted ways with the Bombers at the end of this year’s season due to a lack of opportunities and returned to Western Australia to be closer to his family.
Jetta played for South Fremantle before being drafted in 2006, but has decided to join Peel Thunder for the 2015 season.
“I just wanted something different really,” he said.
“I thought it was right to come up here.
“I work here with Street Net down in Mandurah during the day and train at night and play on the weekends.”
“With the alignment with Freo, I thought it would be great club to play for.
“I feel like I can still play at the top level.”
Although Jetta is still only 26, he said he was not looking to play AFL at this stage.
He is currently playing in Darwin for the Palmerston Magpies on the weekends until Christmas but said he was looking forward to playing for Peel.
“We [Peel Thunder] have a very young group and we have some good players who were there last year,” he said.
“My aim is to really push for finals and help the young boys out.”
Jetta said the supplements saga didn’t draw him away from the club.
“I only played a handful of games over the last few years when I felt I should be playing more,” he said.
“I was playing really well in the VFL and with (Paul) Chapman coming across it made it a lot harder.
“The boys didn’t really worry about [the drug saga]; it’s not one of the reasons why I left, I have a lot of family here and I wanted to come back.”
He said he was enjoying being back in WA and working with Street Net – who work with 12-18 year-olds at risk.
LEROY JETTA
Drafted 2006 pick 18
GAMES: 93
BEST: 31 disposals versus Western Bulldogs 2010
GOALS: 80
BEST: Four versus Port Adelaide 2012
POSITION: Small forward
AGE: 26
HEIGHT: 177cm
WEIGHT: 75kg
