Can youth alone make the finals?

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Poise ... Mark Birighitti has been a tower of strength for the Jets. Source: Tracey Nearmy / AAP

Can you succeed in the A-League riding on the exuberance of youth?

It's a fine balance – just ask Sydney FC, revelling in a win on Sunday afternoon, but who have yet to harness the brilliance of Alessandro Del Piero because of the inexperience of those around him in an injury-riddled season.

Down the F3, Newcastle Jets have also suffered from the inconsistency jitters.

The club are still well into the finals race, but are relying heavily on a lot of the youth. But in the Hunter, youth has always been a key part of Gary van Egmond's strategy.

Veteran striker Michael Bridges still maintains the side will sneak into the six – they're currently one point behind Sydney FC – but acknowledges that his younger teammates are still grasping the ardours of A-League football.

With Jobe Wheelhouse and Tiago Calvano's mid-season departures, the Jets rely heavily on Ruben Zadkovich, Ryan Griffiths, Emile Heskey and Bridges - who has been told to look elsewhere next season - to shoulder the burden of responsibility amongst an inexperienced squad.

The Jets might have lost to the Wanderers, but their No.1, Mark Birighitti, starred with another save that earns him Bozza's vote for this week's Save of the Week. Enjoy the video at the top of the page.

"(Having a squad full of youngsters is) great when it's going well, but when the chips are down and you've got 13,000 or 20,000 on your back and you're going to places like Western Sydney Wanderers or Melbourne Victory, it's going to affect you," Bridges told foxsports.com.au.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

"That's where we've got to have a fine balance.

"I know what Gary's trying to achieve with a young team, trying to win something.

"But realistically, these kids have got to have a shoulder to cry on.

"For us (senior guys), we've played in stadiums with hundreds of thousands of people there, throwing things at you, places like Galatasaray; we know how to handle it. Hopefully we can take the distractions away."

The class of Craig Goodwin, James Virgili, Sam Gallaway, Connor Chapman et al have shown glimpses, but Bridges pinpoints one youngster who has had a breakthrough year, and been one of the Jets' best.

Goalkeeper Mark Birighitti.

"His injury (a fractured cheekbone against Wellington in November) was a horrendous knee clash - he looked like the elephant man, I was taking the mickey out of him a bit too much!

"For him to come back into the game; you think he'll be vulnerable with crosses – but he hasn't.

"He's been our standout player this season.

"He's the one I can say single-handedly – him and Emile. What he's got: he's a great shot-stopper, his distribution for a goalkeeper is fantastic and he's also getting save of the week as well!"