The Jets dealt a major blow to Charles Sturt University's hopes of playing finals, demolishing the Bushpigs by 110 points at Ardlethan on Saturday.

The 22.14 (146) to 4.12 (36) result put them a win clear of CSU, plus plenty of percentage, and with a game in hand.

The Jets also overcame the late withdrawal of star forward Matt Wallis without a worry in the world.

"I think it sort of clicked today, the things we've been working on," coach Josh Avis said.

"Having Matty Wallis out, I was a bit worried without our main target and wondered how we were going to respond. And we did some work on Thursday night and it wasn't great so I was really nervous how we were going to perform.

"To kick 22 goals without our key forward. As a coach, I'm over the moon about it."

The started superbly, with six goals to one in each of the first two quarters. They finished even better with six goals to none in the last.

Avis said it was up there with their best efforts, along with the upset against North Wagga, and they aren't limiting their horizons to merely scraping into finals.

"It fills us with confidence that, yeah, maybe we are ready to take that step up and compete with those top four sides," Avis said, with a game against fourth-placed The Rock-Yerong Creek looming on Sunday.

Midfielder Mitch Haddrill answered the call to go forward and enjoyed a day out with six goals.

"We're lucky that a few younger blokes have stepped up and we were able to play Mitch Haddrill mainly up forward," Avis said.

"We were pretty confident in our midfield that he could spend a bit of time down forward and he give us a big target - and he did."

Crafty forward Stephen Coate finished with five goals in another promising sign of their options.

The Jets still have some tough games ahead including North Wagga and East Wagga-Kooringal, as well as TRYC, and Avis said they won't get carried away.

"Hopefully we're clicking at the right time of the year, but you don't ever feel really comfortable," he said.

"There's still five weeks of footy left. Anything can happen. I'd like to think we're well and truly on the right track now. This was a game we had circled and thought it would test where we're at.

"Now we've got to look at net week and that will tell us if we're up to standard or it's back to the drawing board."

The Jets hope Wallis will be back (from a bruised knee) next week but said they won't run any risk either, at this stage of the year.

CSU leaders Lachie Moore and Sam Barrow tried to inspire their team and Harry Turner kicked two goals. They have the bye this week and then a tough run home ahead.

The Jets had plenty of contributors, including Hamish Gaynor and Chris Bell.

Full-time:

Northern Jets 6.4, 12.7, 16.12, 22.14 (146)

Charles Sturt University 1.4, 2.7, 4.9, 4.12 (36)

Goals: (Jets) Mitchell Haddrill 6, Stephen Coate 5, Harrison Kimball 3, Chris Bell 3, Jack Fisher 2, Hamish Gaynor 2, Samuel Fisher 1; (CSU) Harry Turner 2, Max Findlay 1, Andrew Dickins 1.

Best: (Jets) Mitchell Haddrill, Stephen Coate, Hamish Gaynor, Chris Bell, Sam Clemson, Lachlan Jones; (CSU) Lachlan Moore, Sam Barrow, Harry Turner, Wayde Archibald, Andrew Dickins, Connor Kelly.

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