But with a win crucial for both teams who languish near the bottom of the table, the Reds weren't about to let Newcastle have it all their own way, Dutch import van Dijk, Iain Ramsay and Fabian Barbiero all attempting to score.
Prolific striker van Dijk had the Reds' best chance of the half, his header 29 minutes in forcing Jets `keeper Ben Kennedy into action.
The Reds sprung to life in the second half looking to create chances right away and it didn't take long for them to break through with van Dijk putting them 1-0 ahead in the 57th minute.
It was Ramsay who did all the lead-up work, his perfectly placed cross finding van Dijk in the box to set him up for his sixth goal in five games.
Jets coach Gary van Egmond brought ex-Arsenal and Everton striker Francis Jeffers on for Haliti with half an hour to go in an effort to add some firepower up front.
But it was fellow second-half substitute Wheelhouse who provided the Jets a lifeline after getting on the end of a Ruben Zadkovich cross to level in the 72nd minute.
Jets striker Michael Bridges had the chance to put the game in his side's keeping with a free-kick just outside the box in extra time, his strike getting past the wall but not Galekovic.
"Yeah, I'm disappointed,'' Adelaide coach John Kosmina said.
"I thought we did enough to win that game to be honest.
"The first half in particular we got into some great areas, we just didn't make enough of the either the territory or possession.
"Newcastle just got on top of us a bit at the end there.''
Jets coach van Egmond was left ruing his team's lost chances.
"We had a couple of opportunities there at the end and we just didn't take them,'' he said.
"But it was great character the boys showed to come back from 1-0 down and get something out of the game.
"It was great to see Jobe get on the scoreboard and hopefully he can continue that.''
- AAP
