The Newcastle Jets will return home full of confidence this week, with momentum firmly on their side and a crucial opportunity looming to cement their place among the A-League Men’s (ALM) title contenders.
Sitting third on the ladder, Mark Milligan’s outfit is chasing a fourth consecutive victory at McDonald Jones Stadium – a milestone the club has not achieved in 16 years.
Friday night’s clash against Wellington Phoenix on 23 January will also mark Newcastle’s first hometown appearance for 2026, so a strong crowd is expected on the back of recent results.
Victories over Auckland FC (3-1), Melbourne City (1-0) and Western Sydney Wanderers (2-1) have propelled the Jets into the top three.
And, attacking midfielder Lachlan Bayliss believes the difference in past weeks has been the team’s ability to finish matches strongly.
“We’re always playing good football,” he said.
“But, now, we are putting the hammer down, putting teams away and not letting them come back into the game.
“So, we’re building good momentum and, hopefully, it carries through the next half of the season.”
The 23-year-old has also been rewarded with greater involvement in recent weeks, making the most of increased minutes as competition for positions intensifies.
“We’ve got a great squad… and opportunities come at different times,” Bayliss admitted.
“I’ve been training hard and I’m ready for the opportunity.”
However, Friday’s opponent presents an intriguing challenge, with Wellington sitting eighth on the table but still firmly in the hunt.
Bayliss explained Newcastle was treating the next fixture no differently.
“We approach every game the same, but they have been a good side in the last few weeks,” he said.
“They’ve picked up some strong results.
“So, they won’t be easy, regardless of where they are [on the ladder].
“The table’s so tight, as we all know.
“But, the home crowd always brings something different, so we’re definitely keen for a good turnout on Friday.”
The match also carries added significance for the midfielder, who represented New Zealand at the 2024 Olympic Games and remains in the national frame ahead of upcoming international windows.
“I think everyone sort of dreams to go to a World Cup, so it’s definitely something I keep in the back of my mind,” Bayliss told the Newcastle Weekly.
“I’m staying focused on here [the Jets] and, if I’m doing well here, then things will take care of themselves over there.
“I’m just going to keep my head down and see what comes.
“It’s pretty much direct competition [the match against Wellington], so it’d be good to get one over them and, for me personally, to have a good game.
“I’m looking forward to it.
“We’ve had some good results against teams towards the top of the table the past couple rounds.
“This is a bit different.”
Bayliss added Newcastle was concentrating on more than just milestones this weekend, with the bigger picture in mind.
“Hopefully, we can turn things around and really sort of galvanize things in the community here,” he said.
“The bigger picture is it’s been seven years since we’ve been in the finals.
“Milestones are good, but we’re always aiming for beyond the play-offs, too.
“You always wanna win, and we’re putting ourselves in a good position now to get that top spot on the ladder.
“That’s our goal.”
The exciting match-up will kick-off from 7.35pm.
For more sports stories:
- Jets crash in ALW as teen strike seals Adelaide win
- Former Jets coaches in sights of Wanderers after Stajcic axing
- Coalfields T20 double-header action affected by rain
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