The Newcastle Jets are set to kick off their 2026-27 A-League season with a highly anticipated match against their rivals, the Central Coast Mariners, on Saturday, October 17, in Gosford. This opening fixture marks the second consecutive season that the Jets will start their campaign with an away F3 Derby.

Season Opener Details

The Australian Professional League announced the first round of fixtures for the upcoming season on Wednesday morning. In addition to the Jets and Mariners clash, Sydney FC will begin their season against Western Sydney on October 16. Other notable matches include Auckland hosting Melbourne City, Macarthur facing Perth, Melbourne Victory traveling to Wellington, and Adelaide welcoming Brisbane to Coopers Stadium.

Team Changes and Previous Encounters

Last season, the Mariners secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Jets in their opening match, with Nichola Durante scoring the decisive goal in the 98th minute at Polytec Stadium. The Jets will enter this season with a significantly altered squad, having added players such as Joe Lolley, Niko Vergos, Zane Schreiber, Will Kennedy, and teenager Oscar Gonzalez. Conversely, they have seen the departure of several key players, including Eli Adams and Clayton Taylor.

The Mariners have also undergone substantial changes, with 13 players leaving the club and only three new additions thus far. They will be led by new head coach John Hutchinson, who takes over from Warren Moon. The Jets, who struggled at the beginning of last season with five losses in their first seven matches, eventually found their form and went on a 10-game unbeaten streak, culminating in their first Premiers Plate victory in club history.

The complete fixture list for the 2026-27 season will be released on Thursday. Due to the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals, concerts, and supercross events at McDonald Jones Stadium, the Jets are expected to play away for much of November and December.