A YEAR AGO, Neville Jetta was out of the senior team and on Melbourne’s rookie list, having been delisted from the club’s primary list at the end of the 2013 season.

But after being reclaimed via the rookie draft, Jetta was back in the senior team from round five last year and soon became a regular member of Melbourne’s best 22.

And when he held Crow star Eddie Betts to just eight disposals and two behinds in round seven, it reinvigorated Jetta’s career for the Demons.

Now, reflecting on that period, almost a year on, Jetta said it was a time that ultimately built him into the footballer – and more importantly – person he is today.

“It was definitely a tough experience to go through,” he told melbournefc.com.au.

“It definitely shaped me as a person and as a footballer as well.

“The stuff I had to go through – to get back to where I wanted to – I got a lot of help from the coaches and players, and I had my family’s support around me.

“I got that belief back that I could play at the top level.”

Jetta, who started the 2015 season in the starting 22, said it was reassuring to know where he fitted in the team.

“It’s been a major difference compared to this time last year, when I was on the rookie list,” he said.

“It’s great to have some reward for all of the hard work over the pre-season.

“I’ve put stuff into place that I’ve worked on in the pre-season, so I’m just trying to continue what I do best and that’s shut down small forwards and try and play my role for the team.

“I treated round one like every other game I’ve played over the past 12 months.”