They may be winless to start the 2026/27 A-League Men season but the Newcastle Jets and their fans shouldn’t be panicking just yet.
The Jets were defeated 2-1 by Perth Glory in Matchweek 4 of the new season, meaning Mark Milligan’s side have now recorded two losses and two draws from their opening four matches.
As well as being knocked out of the Australia Cup in the Round of 32, Newcastle have also suffered defeat in all four of their Asian Champions League Elite matches this campaign
But despite their poor start to the season which sees them sat 10th on the ladder, A-Leagues champions Erik Paartalu and Kosta Barbarouses believe it’s not time to hit the panic button just yet.
“It sounds bleak, but for them, it just looks like they can’t juggle having the ACL,” Barbarouses on the latest episode of A-Leagues: On the Whistle. “It looks like it’s just too much for them.
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“You can have a coach like Millsy who’s played in, I don’t know, five or six Champions League campaigns as a player. You can have a few experienced players that probably have the know-how.
“But when you, as a club, haven’t experienced that in a long time, it’s very difficult and none of the the A-League sides are handling it too well.
“I believe they will be okay once the ACL Elite is out of the way for them. I think they’re going to be a good side in the competition.
He continued: “They’re showing they’re a good side, they’re creating loads of chances. They’ve got a [number] nine that looks a little bit short on confidence now that’s missing quite a few chances.
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“We spoke about probably Millsy being happy with them getting in those areas, but there has to come to a point where you you’re putting them away because on another day they at least draw that game with the amount of chances they had.
“So look, it’s got to come to a point where they need to start picking up results for sure. But Millsy has got them playing in a way that they’re always going to cause teams problems.
“So once they don’t have that juggle of ACL Elite, it’s going to be like a weight off their shoulders.”
After winning both the 2025 Australia Cup and the Premiers Plate last season the Jets saw several off their best players leave McDonald Jones Stadium for opportunities overseas.
In total 13 players left the club including the likes of Eli Adams, Mark Natta, Clayton Taylor, Lachie Bayliss and Lachie Rose.
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PERTH, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 07: Pieter Jacobsz of the Glory reaches for the ball during the round four A-League Men match between Perth Glory and Newcastle Jets at HBF Park, on November 07, 2026, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)
Tasked with rebuilding his Premiership-winning squad, Milligan brought in the likes of Sydney FC trio Joe Lolley, Alex Grant and Patrick Wood as well as former Melbourne Victory striker Nikos Vergos, with Paartalu believing the squad is still gelling together having lost so much quality.
I look at last season, and I think they didn’t come good until what round eight or nine, and there was the conversation like, “Oh, the Australia Cup winners, they’re choking. What’s happening?” Paartalu said.
“All of a sudden the light bulb went, and it was like, who the hell is Eli Adams? Who’s Lachie Rose? Who’s Clayton Taylor?
“I don’t think they’ve had that same conversation though. I don’t see Nikos Vergos clicking into gear. I don’t see maybe Joe Lolly clicking into gear because I think that’s just going to tire him out having both competitions, they’re trying to rotate and rest him.
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PERTH, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 07: Nikolaos Vergos of the Jets looks to pass during the round four A-League Men match between Perth Glory and Newcastle Jets at HBF Park, on November 07, 2026, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)
“Losing those three younger, hungrier and I think better quality players, you’ve got to say, that fit Newcastle, know Newcastle, understood Newcastle, that will take time as well itself.
“But I don’t want to be too bold here, but I just don’t see how Newcastle can come back from this and win the league.
“I might be wrong, I hope I’m wrong, but I can see them in the top six.”
Next up for the Jets after the FIFA international break is a home ACL Elite clash against Japanese side Kashiwa Reysol on Tuesday, November 24.
Milligan’s side then face J1 League side Vissel Kobe in the same competition on December 1 before returning to A-League Men action on December 12th when they face Melbourne Victory.
