Reflection time is over. Now, Ash Wilson wants to see action.
The Jets W-League coach said players "understand the situation they're in" this week as they prepared to host fourth-placed Adelaide (13 points) in yet another must-win match at No.2 Sportsground on Friday night.
Newcastle are seventh with four points after seven matches. Mathematically, they can still finish in the top four but they need to start winning and rely on other results to play in their favour.
"The reality is we have to win," Wilson said. "Tactics are an important part, but at the moment it's winning your battles and making sure that every game you're turning up to play and you're turning up to win because there's no other alternative for us.
"The girls have a lot of resilience and they have a lot of character and I think what I would be really disappointed with is if they didn't keep working to their potential and getting some of the results that I think they're quite capable of ... for now it's about taking action.
"They've reflected. They've responded positively at training. That's all I can ask from them. They have to turn that into results. They have to turn that into a performance that is going to get us three points on the weekend."
The hosts will be without attacking midfielder Rhianna Pollicina, who has started every game and produced a wonder goal in a 4-2 loss to Melbourne Victory in round seven.
The 24-year-old is serving a one-match suspension after being red carded in injury time for two yellow card offences in a 2-0 loss to Victory at No.2 Sportsground last Saturday. Wilson said her absence will be "a big loss" but everyone else was available for selection.
Chloe O'Brien started in the midfield in the Jets' opening two rounds and has played off the bench in their past three, including the second half last weekend.
"Chloe showed good energy and good composure," Wilson said. "She's definitely put her hand up to be in a good position to take a spot. "
Jets fans could see more changes in the attack end as the Jets mentor continues to search for a winning combination. Tara Andrews, centrally, and wide player Sunny Franco have started every game but Wilson has experimented with the other wide forward position, giving starts to Lauren Allan, Sophie Harding and Jemma House.
Last weekend, 29-year-old striker Evelyn Chronis also gave her coach something to think about when she made her W-League debut for the final 11 minutes.
"Everyone's been putting their hand up this week," Wilson said. "We've made that pretty clear to them, so there's potential for Ev. There's other people as well that aren't starting that have the potential to give us some other aspects to support, whether it's a technical aspect or whether it's speed."
The Reds, who have had Mount Hutton's Annalee Grove playing in goals, are chasing their first ever finals appearance. They have beaten last-placed Perth (one point) twice and taken wins over Melbourne City, who were eighth with four points before playing Western Sydney on Thursday night, and fifth-placed Canberra (11).
"I said at the start of the season that they'd be a tough team to beat," Wilson said.
"They've managed to retain a lot of their team from previous seasons, so they've got that familiarity with each other and their ability to link up. Plus they've got people like [Chilean Maria Jose] Rojas in there that adds something a little bit special. She's a dangerous player but I think as a team they work quite well.
"They're dangerous all over the park and given the fact they are fighting for their first ever finals spot they've probably got a good lot of momentum and we need to be mindful of that."
The round-10 game kicks off at 6.05pm.
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