The Newcastle Jets are banking on a strong start, and a vocal home crowd, to provide the impetus for an A-League Men’s (ALM) grand final berth in 2025/26. 

After drawing 1-all with Sydney FC in the first leg of the semis at Allianz Stadium, Mark Milligan’s troops now hold their destiny in their own hands.

And, fittingly, it will play out at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday 16 May, the scene of many individual and team milestones this season.

For the winner, a showdown with either Auckland or Adelaide awaits.

It’s a challenge in-form left back Daniel Wilmering is more than ready to tackle.

“These are the games you want to play,” he said.

“In front of packed stadiums and meaningful matches for trophies.

“I’m focusing on that… and really enjoying the moment because that’s what it’s about; it’s the reason we love football.

“It’s also why I’ve done it since I was a kid.

“But, as a team, we’ve contested a few big games now.

“The Australia Cup final we had, I think we can draw a bit of experience from that, as well as some other important matches towards the end of the season when we were trying to secure the Premier’s Plate.

“The character we displayed throughout those fixtures, and the results, will hold us in good stead.

“Plus, we’ve sort of embraced the hype and buzz around town.

“People saw that with the (Central Coast) Mariners’ game, when we had a full stadium.

“The boys really lifted from that.

“So, I believe we can be proud – as a side and a club – that we brought that back to Newcastle.

“Now, we need to feed off that energy to get us over the line.”

Newcastle showed plenty of resolve against the Sky Blues, especially when former Jet Apostolos Stamatelopoulos put the hosts ahead 1-0.

Instead of succumbing to the pressure, the locals rallied with Clayton Taylor setting up the equaliser for Eli Adams in the 58th minute.

“We were pretty happy,” Wilmering said.

“Obviously, we wanted to go down there and win.

“However, the guys showed good character once we went behind to get that goal back.

“The intensity of a final, let alone a semi, was a big jump from even towards the end of the season.

“So, maybe at the beginning of the game, we weren’t probably used to that.

“It might have taken us too long to adapt, which is why we conceded the goal.

“We’ve experienced that now, so I’m positive the boys will turn it around.

“We have got to start with more intensity, win our duels and secure the ball better.

“I don’t think we did that enough last weekend.

“If we rectify it [on Saturday], it’ll go a long way towards a win.

“It’s do-or-die this weekend, so we’ve got nothing to lose.

“And, we should treat it as such.”

Wilmering, who’s been at Newcastle since 2023, admitted he couldn’t have written the script better in 2025/26.

But, with a new coach at the helm, the Jets claimed the pre-season Australia Cup and backed up to snare the Premier’s Plate for the first time in the club’s history.

“I don’t think we said we’ve got to have a home grand final back then,” he told the Newcastle Weekly.

“At the start, we were focused on making the organisation a better place.

“And, the players wanted to improve each training session… and game.

“I believe we’ve done that.

“Having this home semi, and a potential home grand final, is a reward for what we’ve done so far this season.

“I don’t want to get too ahead of myself but playing the decider at McDonald Jones Stadium would mean everything to us as a group… and Newcastle as well.

“The last time the Jets made it was 2018, which ended in heartbreak.

“That’s certainly in the back of our minds.

“We want to give this town and this community something to cheer about.

“That’s not lost on the players.

“We obviously know we’ve got a match to win on Saturday first; then we’ll worry about things after that.

“However, I think knowing we could create a bit of history is definitely driving us and motivating us.”

For more sports stories:

• Limited tickets remain as Jets eye off another record crowd
• Milligan confident Jets will rise to the occasion
• Talented Hunter pair re-signs with Knights ahead of NRLW season

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