NEVILLE Jetta says he “definitely” felt a few extra nerves entering his 100^th AFL match, as he had family and friends travel across the Nullarbor to watch him play against Essendon at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Jetta said the fact that his side ended a three-match losing streak to get an important 38-point win made the day extra special.

“I got to 100 [games] and it was even better to have a win with the boys and play some exciting footy in the second half. We started to play the way we wanted to,” he told Melbourne TV.

“In the second half, we had a good spread of goalkickers, and Cam Pedersen and Jack Watts stood up in the ruck, and Tom [McDonald] down back as well.

“It was just great to get a win, especially with my family and friends here as well … my mum and dad, my brother and sister, and my uncle and aunty, who drove over from WA, so it was really special.”

Jetta said his pre-match routine for his milestone match had a different build-up, but one he thoroughly enjoyed. But he also made special mention to key forward Jesse Hogan, who did not play against Essendon, due to the sad passing of his father, Tony.

“I’ve got my house full at the moment with my family [visiting from Western Australia], so I usually wake-up with a quiet household and do my preparation. But this morning, everyone was excited and wanted to get to the game, and see us do well and we did that,” he said.

“The boys not only did it for me – they did it for Jesse Hogan, who is going through a rough time at the moment and we’re all thinking of him.”

“I know he’ll (Hogan) be rapt to see the boys win as well.”

Jetta said his team had been through a rough patch in the past three weeks – after losses to Geelong, Fremantle and Richmond – but upped the ante when it needed to against the Dons.

“I think we just cracked in harder and went for the ball a bit harder, and then our footy took over and our ball movement,” he said.