INDEGENOUS project officer and former Melbourne defender Matthew Whelan says he’s proud to see Neville Jetta become a leader among the Indigenous and football community.

Whelan, who was a mentor to Jetta when they played one season together at Melbourne in 2009, said he had watched him flourish in recent times.

“I was just finishing up when Nev was just getting started,” he told Melbourne TV.  

“He’s come a long way with the stuff he does on the field, but certainly off the field as well – he’s grown into a great young man and he’s a very respectful young man.

“He’s put in all of the stuff that we pushed onto him, myself and Aaron Davey, that we taught him and he’s pushed it all onto the younger fellas, which has been fantastic. Now they’ve got a great leader in Nev.”

Whelan, who was instrumental in developing the club’s Reconciliation Action Plan, said it was an important introduction.

“It’s a celebration of Melbourne Football Club’s long history with Indigenous people,” he said.

“It’s our first step in our journey for reconciliation.”