Based on the form he has shown in the first two rounds of the season, it’s hard to believe that Lewis Jetta was a spectator for last year’s finals series.

Jetta, who played 20 home and away games during the regular season, was left out of the team’s best 22 when it counted and watched his team mates battle out the 2011 finals’ series from the stands.

Instead of letting that disappointment get him down, Jetta used the experience as motivation to come back better and stronger than ever in 2012.

“Definitely missing out on the finals helped me with that determination,” Jetta told sydneyswans.com.au.

“The finals are the most important part of the season and I think everyone wants to play in those games, but unfortunately some can’t, so you’ve just got to work harder the next pre-season.”

Click on the video player above to watch Jed Lamb put your questions to Lewis Jetta in this week's episode of Ask A Swan

The fleet-footed forward, who notched up three goals and 13 disposals in last Saturday’s win over Fremantle, wanted to show the club he had what it took to be part of the Swans’ top side.

“You just have to do what you can to stay in the side and that’s what I’m planning on doing,” Jetta said.

“I’ve been working on my weaknesses so far and I’m still working on them at training and just trying to better them.

“I just want to show the coaches that I’m ready to go.”

Over the pre-season, the 22-year-old identified areas of weakness in his game and worked hard to turn them into strengths. He even worked with one of the club’s top endurance runners, Kieren Jack, to improve his work rate and output on the ground.

“I’m obviously pretty quick but I needed to learn how to work harder for longer,” he said.

“One of my weaknesses was chase-down tackles. They were just one thing I had to work as well as just reaching in the tackles and getting my body to it.

“The other area I need to work on is when I’m running at full pace, just slowing down that extra second just to hit a target.”

Just two weeks into the season and Jetta said he is already feeling some of the results of his tough pre-season.

“I think it showed on the weekend where I did that against a couple of opponents and I was pretty happy with those tackles,” he said.

“It just shows that the work I’m putting in is paying off in the games.

“I’ve just got to keep working at it because it feels pretty good.”

His on-field performance is not the only area of the player’s life that took some extra training during the off-season with Jetta also needing to find the right balance between his time at the Swans and his role as a first-time dad to his son Lewis Oliver.

Jetta admitted last season was difficult trying to find the right mix, but said he is now on track to be his best at both.

“It’s about finding that balance between being a young father and a professional athlete,” he said.

“I think this year, especially during the pre-season, I was able to find that balance.

“It’s all about finding that right balance of coming to training, doing all I need to do, and then going home and being  a parent.”

Jetta said little Lewis already enjoyed watching his dad on the footy field, and expects he will come to more games in the future.

“He came to all the pre-season games,” he said.

“There was one pre-season game he was at and he saw me on the bench and he got all excited, so it’s good to see that stuff.

“I do think I’ve finally found that balance, so it’s all working well.”