I'm not sure I've ever truly believed that old cliche, but events of the past week have come close to persuading me.

After laying siege to Melbourne City's goal for 45 minutes 10 days ago, and ultimately losing, the Jets were second-best for the best part of 90 minutes, against a weakened Perth side on Saturday night, and somehow walked away with the chocolates.

Jets coach Ernie Merrick has seen it all before, and once again channeled his inner Elliot Goblet to quip at the press conference: “The police have just come into the dressing room and charged us with the theft of three points.” 

A witty and accurate response, but cleverly a reminder for his players about standards and expectations, delivered without killing the mood, and stifling the subdued euphoria of a team who haven't prospered often in the west.

Conscious of the efforts for no reward a week prior, Merrick knows his side were second-best for most of the Perth fixture, but not by such a margin as to think the eventual victory was in the realms of the miraculous.

This wasn't a case of park the bus, can't get out of your own half, then scramble a goal from your only chance.

While the Jets were generally shaded by a plucky Glory side, in most departments, it wasn't a smash-and-grab win of epic proportions.

That has occurred in Perth before, and a number of times against the title-winning Brisbane Roar sides of previous seasons, when victories and “hoodoos” were created against seemingly relentless and overwhelming pressure.

At 0-1 in any game, you are only one kick of the ball away from a potentially huge swing in fortunes, and so it proved on Saturday night.

You could feel for cousin Kenny Lowe and shake your head about the vagaries of the game.

But his team’s dominance was never complete, and when Perth lost key players from central defence and central midfield, and Roy O’Donovan entered the fray for the Jets, the scales tipped ever so slightly towards Merrick's men.

Better to fall back on belief, and never-say-die effort, than rely on goalscoring contributions from J. Koutroumbis and O.G. on a regular basis, or the vagaries of the football gods. 

Never a better example of that (hang on, the VAR can't touch the results now, can it?) than the minimal contact made by Jets skipper Nigel Boogaard for the penalty against Melbourne City, and his near-post policing of Shane Lowry in the 93rd minute on Saturday night. Swings and roundabouts.

Last week I wrote that the upcoming games against Perth (last Saturday) and home fixtures against Adelaide and the Wanderers were more important, in many ways, than the contests against the “bigger” clubs like Sydney FC and Melbourne City.

That is based on the logic that you do more to cement your top-four status by beating potential rivals, denying them points, rather than teams whose overall strength will see them finish high on the table, regardless.

The three points garnered (pilfered, stolen, whatever your take) from the Perth match last week has put the Jets in a very strong position before two very winnable games at McDonald Jones Stadium before Christmas. 

Let's be honest, there has been a little bit of  “the little engine that could”, scenario associated with Newcastle’s efforts to date. A lot of “experts” are waiting for a team deemed to be punching slightly above its weight to falter, if not run off the tracks.

Merrick’s men have put themselves in a fabulous position.

They are absolutely in contention and will know as well as anybody that two solid, professional, hard-nosed performances, against an improved but suspension-hit Adelaide, and a Wanderers side searching for its identity and soul, would make a huge statement. 

Not “dangerous opponents”, or “capable of surprising”, or an “on a given day” type of team, but true contenders.

The fact that Sydney FC host Melbourne City on Friday night means should the Jets get three points at home to Adelaide on Saturday, they will either extend their advantage over City, close the gap to Sydney at the top of the table, or both. 

Before anyone accuses me of getting ahead of myself, I have not forgotten the improved form of Adelaide United.

The Reds were ultra-competitive against Sydney FC two weeks ago, then went to Melbourne Victory, ended up with nine men, but still gripped on to triumph 2-1. 

Nor have I forgotten how they swamped the Jets for about 35 minutes at Coopers Stadium in round six, before conceding two very soft goals , as the match changed complexion completely.

Despite suspensions to Daniel Adlung and Ben Garrucio, I think it's fair to say the Reds are in a better form now, and perhaps the most improved side in the competition.

This is no bankable three points, in fact I'd be surprised if it's not the most physically taxing match the Jets have faced for a while. 

I guess, like a lot of Jets fans, I am a little impatient about being able to confirm finals football for the team. Although patience is a virtue, a seven-year absence can make the most serene just a little antsy.

When will we know? A quick glance into the crystal ball (forgivable at Christmas) tells me that after tricky and testing away excursions to Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC over the Christmas/New Year period the Jets face in three consecutive home games, the Mariners, Brisbane Roar, and the Wellington Phoenix between January 9 and 20. 

If the Jets maintain their current form, I'd reckon they would have acquired almost enough points to guarantee finals football by that time.

The final 10 rounds would then decide how high up the ladder they finish.

Did I just say that out loud?

It's an important time. When opportunity knocks grab it with both hands.