Star forward Leroy Jetta will line up for the Pinjarra Tigers once again in 2020, returning to the club after spending a year with his hometown Brookton-Pingelly Football Club this previous season.
The ex-Essendon Bomber won a Peel Football and Netball League premiership with the Tigers back in 2018, and will be hoping to recapture that same glory as the club hopes to reload following a straight sets exit this season.
Really we're just happy to have a quality player and quality person back at our club.
- Pinjarra Tigers head coach Craig Milward
Jetta was integral part of the 2018 team, booting five goals in the grand final drubbing of Centrals and constantly wreaking havoc on opposing backs.
His return is a huge boost for newly-appointed head coach Craig Milward's playing group.
"Just what Leroy brings to the forward half of the ground is huge," he said.
"He's a big-time goal kicker and his experience in that area of the game is invaluable.
"Having him back on board after winning a flag with the club in 2018 is something we're very excited about."
Jetta played 93 games at the AFL level for Essendon, before returning to Peel Thunder where he won a league premiership with the club in 2017.
But outside of his on-field prowess, Milward said he would provide valuable knowledge and leadership to Pinjarra's young players.
"We've got a lot of good kids coming through our program. We won a colts flag two years ago and now a lot of those boys are in the league side, so hopefully Leroy can help show them a little more about the game," he said.
"Really we're just happy to have a quality player and quality person back at our club."
Milward takes the reins as head coach following the departure of two-time premiership mentor Troy Vidovich, but he's no stranger to the club having played more than 300 games with the Tigers.
He was the assistant coach of the 2018 flag-winning team, and co-coached alongside Vidovich the following year.
"[The head coaching position] is something I've probably wanted to do for some time now," he said.
"I learnt a lot working with Vido the past few years and I've had a really strong connection with Pinjarra for years, so there's a definitely a bit of pride in coaching for me."
Milward will be hoping to lead his Tigers back to the promiseland in 2020, having exited the finals without a win this previous campaign.
The playing group will hit the track for their pre-season program sometime in mid-January.
Justin Rake
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
