It’s not too late to jump on the Newcastle Jets’ bandwagon, according to the A-League organisation’s proud CEO Tain Drinkwater.

With Mark Milligan’s ALM outfit sitting in top spot on the ladder and Stephen Hoyle’s ALW squad still within striking distance of a play-off berth, anticipation remains high within the club… and throughout the Hunter.

That excitement could rise another level, too, when the match of the 2025/26 season lands at McDonald Jones Stadium this weekend.

Newcastle, undefeated in its past 10 outings, tackles second-placed Auckland FC at home on Saturday 14 March from 5pm.

Pundits are predicting a crowd of 15,000-plus to rock the stands.

“It’s a nice position to be in, having people wanting to be a part of the Jets,” Drinkwater said.

“In fact, I think a couple of weeks ago against Macarthur, when we went close to 15,000, it was the first time since 2017/18 and that’s when we were in the grand final.

“But, this weekend, it’s a huge game for the boys, 1 v 2.

“We’d love to smash that figure (15,000), so that’s my call to action.

“I’m hoping everyone in Newcastle and the region can get behind them.

“They deserve the support.

“We’re 10 matches unbeaten, and I believe the next record is 12, which is held by Newcastle United in 2001.

“Plus, people are witnessing first-hand that the more who attend the game, the more the team is lifting.

“There’s a positive reaction, so we’re grateful for that.

“Even better, we’re playing great football at the moment… and people want to see that.”

Drinkwater admitted the fans had a major role to play when the Jets clashed with the Black Knights.

“Hometown support is such a big thing,” she said.

“It can spur the boys to greater heights or lift them at a crucial point in the match.

“That’s why I’m calling on every Novocastrian, every person in the Hunter, to come along and get behind their side.

“Against the Bulls, we sold out in our GA section.

“So, we’re trying to encourage people to buy their tickets early.

“We’ve also launched a couple of new products this week, one which is a three-game membership.

“It’s sort of a ‘road to the finals’ deal, which means people won’t miss out on a ticket.

“They don’t need to get there super early because they’ve got their seats secured.

“And, it gives them an opportunity to have priority access to any of the home game finals, touch wood, if we’re in that position.”

Drinkwater, born and raised in Lake Macquarie, is buoyed by the public interest in Newcastle’s fairytale run.

Everywhere she goes, individuals and families want to speak to her about the Jets.

“It’s fantastic,” she told the Newcastle Weekly.

“I’ve spent the past couple of days within the community and doing some things for International Women’s Day.

“However, people want to discuss the Box Office Jets.

“Seriously, they’re the talk of the town.

“For example, I was sitting on a panel recently, alongside professional, intelligent women who were speaking about a very important topic.

“But, all they wanted to chat about was the Box Office Jets.

“So, I’m never going to say no to that.

“And, other codes are taking notice, too.

“We had [Newcastle Knights coach] Justin Holbrook at the game with his family.

“I love seeing that… people from other codes realising our success is great for Newcastle and the Hunter.

“They can see the direct result for the region – on and off the field.

“We’ve also had the likes of Shannon Noll, John Paul Young and Craig ‘Skippy’ Johnston, to name a few, in the Chairman’s Lounge; that’s brilliant.

“We want them there but we also want to encourage our Jets’ alumni back to the club.

“Honestly, we’ve got a new generation of fans who haven’t seen Newcastle successful.

“This is their opportunity to get behind us and help us succeed.”

Drinkwater was quick to praise Milligan, the Socceroos great, as well as Maverick Sports Partners, who acquired the Jets in June 2024.

“Mark and his team are absolutely remarkable,” she said.

“They have a process, they’ve got a set playing style… and they haven’t wavered from that.

“There have been times where people were calling for change.

“However, Mark – backed by his staff – was true in his conviction.

“They knew they could trust the process.

“Similarly, the ownership group is 100% committed to the club… and the Newcastle community.

“You can see there’s a lot of investment from our owners.

“Not only directly into the organisation but into the broader ecosystem and business network.

“I don’t think any other club, and I stand corrected, matches that level of support and investment into the local community.

“They’ve been very clear about their conviction from the start.

“I’m just really excited to be able to bring it to life as CEO, with the great team that I’ve got.”

And, even though the Jets are well-placed in 2025/26, they’re not resting on their laurels either.

In the past fortnight, they’ve re-signed youngsters Joel Bertolissio and Xavier Bertoncello to new two-year deals… with an eye on the future.

“That’s important for us across both our men’s and women’s sides – that pathway and the investment into our Academy programs,” Drinkwater said.

“We want young boys and young girls playing for the club.

“I think Mark’s said it previously as well, we want them to aspire to play wherever they want to.

“But, ultimately, they know by coming here or through our Academy, there’s an opportunity to perform at an elite level in their hometown and, maybe, internationally one day.

“That’s what any junior wants.

“Overall, I’m extremely pleased with how everything is shaping up.

“Our women’s side plays its last home game at No. 2 on Friday (13 March) before we head back up to Maitland (5 April).

“They’ve got a chance to make the finals, so it would be terrific to see the fans cheer them on this week, too.

“Actually, it’s imperative they support our men’s and women’s teams because they’re both in the hunt for the play-offs.

“That’s unheard of in the club’s history, so it would be an exciting achievement.”

For more sports stories:

• GALLERY… Milligan’s half-time talk lifts Jets to great heights
• Natta the hero as defender’s rare goal keeps Jets on top of ALM
• Milligan keen to see Jets pass another big test against Wanderers

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