While Saints had put together three straight wins in the lead-up to round six, the Jets were coming off consecutive losses, including a seven-goal loss to The Rock-Yerong Creek last week.

But they injected life into their season with an 11.7 (73) to 5.13 (43) win against the defending premiers, after kicking all five goals of the final quarter.

"We've been a bit disappointed in the last few weeks particularly, but we've been drumming home that we're very capable," Jets coach Josh Avis said.

"I think this week it clicked a little bit and we realised we can play good footy. We were able to stick with them and then bang a couple of goals home in the last quarter which is always pleasing."

North Wagga struggled to assert themselves with the wind early and a 2.6 opening quarter set an unfortunate tone.

Making better use of the footy, the Jets led by two points at half-time and, critically, limited North Wagga to one goal (their last of the game) in the third.

The Saints' one-point lead was always going to be difficult to defend against the breeze and the Jets wasted no time making their move.

"We got the first two clearances in the last quarter and they were quick clearances and we banged it into our 50 and locked it in," Avis said.

New Jet Stephen Coate cashed in those first two for goals inside three minutes and soon enough Mitch Haddrill and Matt Wallis had joined the party.

By the time Coates kicked his fourth of the game 13 minutes into the last quarter, North Wagga needed as many goals to get back into the contest, as they'd kicked in three-and-a-half quarters.

Avis said the Jets had needed to learn to play smarter, as well as hang in when the going was against them, and showed promising signs in those areas.

"We made it our focus not to worry about what we're doing with the footy but make sure we shut down that quick spread (of opposition teams) and we stepped that up today," Avis said.

"It was nice to play four quarters and it showed we're definitely capable enough when we turn up."

Coate confirmed the excitement around his signing while Jack Fisher was courageous and ruckman Lachlan Jones ensured Sam Fisher and Mitch Haddrill could get going in the middle.

Avis also praised the first senior performances of Charlie McCormack, who gave them another tall target deep forward (with Ryan Quade injured) and returned club junior Tom Prentice.

The Jets will chase back-to-back wins when they host Temora next week, with hopes of moving into a share of fifth spot, although expect to again be without Brad McKinnon (shoulder).

Corey Watt and the Keith brothers, Ben and Sean, led Saints efforts but the home side was handicapped by 13 behinds as they went down to the Jets for the first time since July 2017.

Full-time:

Northern Jets 2.1, 5.3, 6.3, 11.7 (73)

North Wagga Saints 2.6, 4.7, 5.10, 5.13 (43)

Goals: (Jets) Stephen Coate 4, Matt Wallis 2, Mitch Haddrill 1, Jack Fisher 1, Josh Roscarel 1, Chris Bell 1, Charlie McCormack 1; (North Wagga) Daniel Jordan 2, Benjamin Keith 1, Cayden Winter 1, Nathan Dennis 1.

Best: (Jets) Jack Fisher, Lachlan Jones, Stephen Coate, Matt Wallis, Sam Fisher, Mitch Haddrill; (Saints) Corey Watt , Benjamin Keith, Sean Keith, Xavier Lyons, Elliott Winter, Jack Flood.

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