Jets eye perfect end to A-League Men premiership script

Newcastle Jets' Eli Adams was twice on target in his side's draw with Melbourne Victory. (Morgan Hancock/AAP PHOTOS)

For the Newcastle Jets, there could be no better script than beating arch-rivals Central Coast to claim a maiden A-League Men premiership.

The have already won the Australia Cup and claimed an Asian Champions League Elite berth in a remarkable rookie season for coach Mark Milligan the former Socceroos captain.

After fighting out a 2-2 draw with Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park on Friday night, the Jets will win the premiership if second-placed Auckland, who are four points back, lose to the Mariners at home on Sunday.

If not, they can seal their first league silverware since the 2007-08 championship if they beat the Mariners - who previously snatched a thrilling round one derby win over Newcastle -at McDonald Jones Stadium next Saturday.

When it mattered most, @NewcastleJetsFC's star Eli Adams stepped up to the challenge 🫡 pic.twitter.com/cXLFGLLYXS

— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) April 17, 2026

"We complain about everything; about the scheduling, about what days we're playing. But in all honesty, it couldn't have been written any better for these lads," Milligan said.

"We're a very, very different team to what we were round one when we played Mariners at their ground.

"We've taken some fantastic learnings from tonight. And it wasn't something that I did, it was something that I noticed, the group got together in the middle of the park after the game. And that tells me a lot. 

"It reconfirms to me just how determined this group is. I'm glad we're experiencing these things with oppositions right now, because we're going to be a much better team for it once finals do roll around."

Milligan had no plans of contemplating the prospect of the Mariners beating Auckland and handing the Jets the plate a week early.

"Most importantly, our destiny is in our hands," he said. 

Jets coach Mark Milligan praised his side's determination as they close in on the premiership title. (Darren Pateman/AAP PHOTOS)

"We know that no matter what happens on Sunday, that's not going to change the way that we approach the game next weekend against the Mariners."

Milligan is delighted with how his young charges have gotten to grips with teams starting to respect them as the league leaders - like Victory deploying a back five at home.

"What we've found over the last few weeks was oppositions were treating us like we were top of the table, so we had to start acting accordingly as well, and that's part of it.

"This group still has so much growth to come, and we'll see that over the next few weeks, and we'll see it moving forward as well," he said. 

"But now the responsibility that they're taking for the football .... for right now, we're where we need to be."