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HYPE is really starting to build ahead of the A-League kick-off on Friday 11 October.
Most coaches have finished putting their squads together, pre-season friendlies have been run and won and now all eyes are set on a blockbuster round one.
Which club has done the best business?
How has your side fared?
This is the year of consolidation. Harry Kewell returns to our shores, but while there is no Del Piero or Heskey-esque swoop, there are a host of returning Aussies eyeing game time amongst a sprinkling of seasoned foreigners.
We run the rule over the ins and outs heading into the season.
ADELAIDE UNITED
Ins: Isaias Sanchez (Ponferradina), Sergio Cirio (Hospitalet), Michael Zullo (FC Utrecht, LOAN), Tarek Elrich (Wanderers), Steven Lustica (Hajduk Split, CRO), Jordan Elsey, Awer Mabil (youth team)
Outs: Iain Fyfe (Mes Kerman, IRN), Dario Vidosic (Sion, SWI), Fabian Barbiero, Evan Kostopoulos (released)
VERDICT: There's a fair bit of optimism around Hindmarsh Stadium after their first pre-season under Josep Gombau. Ballwork, fluency and creativity has been the word of the day and their two Spanish recruits Sanchez and Cirio are earning rave reviews. They're also playing their part for local talent, with Zullo and Lustica returning to the league as key players in this outfit. Lustica should provide midfield glue amidst their flamboyant foreign talent.
MARK: 7.5/10
BRISBANE ROAR
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Ins: Liam Miller (Perth), Dimitri Petratos (Kelantan, MAL), Diogo Ferreira (Victory), Corey Brown, George Lambadardis (promoted from youth team), Matt McKay (Changchun Yatai)
Outs: Ben Halloran (Fortuna Dusseldorf, GER), Steven Lustica (Hajduk Split – loan expired), Matthew Jurman (Sydney FC), Massimo Murdocca (Heart), Stefan Nijland (loan expired)
VERDICT: There's a lot to like about Brisbane Roar, who have enjoyed their first full pre-season under Mike Mulvey. Adding proven A-League stars McKay and Miller to the ranks is a huge fillip for a side with an already impressive first-XI; depth hasn't been exposed yet, but there are some talented youngsters waiting in the wings.
MARK: 7.5/10
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS
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Ins: Marcel Seip (VVV Venlo, NETH), Matt Simon (Chunnam Dragons, KOR), Marcos Flores (Mariners), Storm Roux (Perth), Tom Slater (Sydney FC youth), Michael Neil, Hayden Morton (youth team), Joel Reddy
Outs: Pedj Bojic (Sydney FC), Patrick Zwaanswijk (retired), Oliver Bozanic (FC Luzern, SWI), Mat Ryan (Club Brugge, BEL), Bernie Ibini (Shanghai Dongya, CHI), Daniel McBreen (Shanghai Dongya – loan until October 30)
VERDICT: Losing prodigious youngsters Ryan, Bozanic and Ibini is a huge loss for the defending champions, but Graham Arnold has brought in capable replacements. The addition of Liam Reddy gives him two stoppers to vie for the No.1 spot; Marcel Seip will try to fill the void left by Zwaanswijk's departure and McBreen's late start, returning from China at the end of October, is mitigated by Matt Simon's return, the addition of Marcos Flores and the development of Mitchell Duke. Whether Arnie can get the best out of Flores, alongside fellow playmaker Michael McGlinchey, will be fascinating.
MARK: 6.5/10
MELBOURNE HEART
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Ins: Orlando Engelaar (PSV, NETH), Rob Wielaert (Roda JC, NETH), Harry Kewell (free) Massimo Murdocca (Brisbane), Tando Velaphi (Victory), Iain Ramsay (Adelaide), Aziz Behich (Bursaspor, LOAN), Stefan Mauk (promoted from youth team), Patrick Kisnorbo (Leeds United), Michael Mifsud (Valletta)
Outs: Clint Bolton (retired), Josip Tadic (Rijeka, CRO), Eli Babalj (AZ Alkmaar, NETH), Simon Colosimo, Matt Thompson, Fred, Marcel Meeuwis, Jamie Coyne (released)
VERDICT: John Aloisi has now had a full off-season recruitment drive to get the squad he wants. Gone is the experienced, older model he was working with last term, and there are sprinklings of attacking variety in his squad. All of his signings are experienced, either here or abroad, and he added the last piece of the puzzle with the addition of Malta captain Mifsud up front. Then there's the Kewell factor. Lessons have been learnt from the Victory experience and from all reports, he's been a positive influence on the club, especially the young brigade.
MARK: 8/10
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MELBOURNE VICTORY
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Ins: Kosta Barbarouses (Alania Vladikavkaz, RUS), Mitch Nichols (Brisbane), Pablo Contreras (Olympiakos), James Troisi (Atalanta - loan)
Outs: Marco Rojas (Stuttgart, GER), Marcos Flores (Mariners), Billy Celeski (Al Shaab, UAE), Diogo Ferreira (Brisbane), Tando Velaphi (Heart), Daniel Mullen (Dalian Aerbin, CHI - loan expired), Spase Dilevski, Theo Markelis, Matt Foschini (released)
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VERDICT: Some popular Victory personnel left the club last term, but there's plenty to be excited about the way Ange Postecoglou's squad is shaping up. Keeping Mark Milligan is as good as a signing, and we all know what level Barbarouses and Nichols reached under their former Roar mentor. With Gui Finkler's return from injury, Australian international Troisi, plus the talented Connor Pain, there's a genuine potency - on paper - to the Victory's attack. But will they be able to fill Rojas's void? Like last term, Postecoglou will do it without an out and out marksman - but there's potential for plenty of goals from a high tempo midfield. Victory identified that an experienced centre-back was crucial - they got that with the experienced Portuguese Contreras, but how he copes with the pace of the league is another question.
MARK: 8/10
NEWCASTLE JETS
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Ins: Kew Jaliens (Wisla Krakow, POL), Nathan Burns (Incheon United, KOR - LOAN), Joey Gibbs (Wanderers)
Outs: Bernardo Ribeiro, Dominik Ritter, Marko Jesic (released), Jack Duncan (Perth Glory)
VERDICT: It's time for Gary van Engmond's talented crop to be entrusted with consistent game time, and to step up, because recruitment has been light on at Hunter Stadium this winter. The Jets have brought in 35-year-old Dutchman Jaliens to provide experience at the back, while former A-League starlet Burns returns with high expectations after a couple of seasons abroad. At his best, he can provide a talented x-factor to complement the Jets' exciting attacking options.
MARK: 5.5/10
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PERTH GLORY
Ins: Ljubo Milicevic (free), Sidnei (Alki Larnaca, CYP), Ryan Edwards (Reading - LOAN), Cameron Edwards (free), Jamie Maclaren (Blackburn), Isaka Cernak (Wellington), Matthew Davies, Riley Woodcock, Daniel De Silva (promoted from youth team)
Outs: Liam Miller (Brisbane), Dean Heffernan (Wanderers), Storm Roux (Mariners), Matias Cordoba, Nick Ward, Nick Ward, Evan Berger, Neil Young (released)
VERDICT: At times, Perth have looked leg weary, but Alistair Edwards's first recruitment drive has left him with a real split between youth and experience. He'll get a real test of his management skills by gambling on Ljubo Milicevic, but if he can get him near his best, it will be worth it as he guides a side alongside Vukovic, Thwaite, Jamieson, Burns, Smeltz and co. Edwards built his reputation in youth development, so it's no surprise to see him bring through a number of fresh faces - including his two sons, Cameron and Ryan. Both have spent time at Reading, and Ryan is currently on loan from the Championship club. The headline of the crop is 19-year-old Maclaren from Blackburn, who impressed at the recent under-20 World Cup, while Edwards will have to ensure 16-year-old De Silva doesn't get too much expectation on him after impressing in Turkey as well. Edwards's recruitment could end up being as good as any, but relying on youth comes with it's risks, and it will be interesting to see how Perth's depth fares if they're all exposed at once.
MARK: 6.5/10
SYDNEY FC
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Ins: Richard Garcia (Heart), Corey Gameiro (Fulham), Pedj Bojic (Mariners), Matt Jurman (Brisbane), Nick Carle (Bani Yas, UAE – loan expired), Marc Warren (Airdrie Utd, SCO), Nikola Petkovic (Red Star Belgrade)
Outs: Joel Griffiths (Qingdao Jonoon, CHI), Kruno Lovrek, Fabio, Nathan Sherlock, Adam Griffiths, Paul Reid, Trent McClenahan (all released)
VERDICT: The artillery is there at Moore Park this season. Will the combinations and balance be? Frank Farina inherited a struggling squad last term and has changed it considerably, adding plenty of experience and proven A-League performers across the pitch. There's still a question over central midfield - particularly with Terry Antonis's unfortunate injury, but there will be big expectations on a side boasting Socceroos Garcia, Brett Emerton and the returning Carle and who can forget Alessandro Del Piero? Corey Gameiro, an impressive, pugnacious young striker, is a worthwhile addition to the mix as well.
MARK: 8/10
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Ins: Carlos Hernandez (Prayag United, IND), Kenny Cunningham (The Strongest, BOL), Reece Caira (Wanderers), Lewis Italiano (Perth)
Outs: Isaka Cernak (Perth), Mark Paston (retired), Tony Lochhead, Alex Smith, Dani Sanchez, Jimmy Downey, Lucas Pantelis (all released)
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VERDICT: Wellington slipped from their competitive perch last year, but with Ernie Merrick at the helm, we can expect a much more organised outfit. There's certainly enough x-factor in the side with Jeremy Brockie and Paul, while Merrick is re-united with Hernandez, a signing late last term. But luring players to the Phoenix isn't easy and recruitment to a squad lacking depth has been thin, outside of 20-year-old Aussie left-back Caira and Costa Rican Cunningham. Can Hernandez return to his best under his old mentor?
MARK: 5/10
WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS
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Ins: Tomi Juric (Adelaide), Dean Heffernan (Perth), Brendon Santalab (Chongqing Lifan, CHI), Josh Barresi (promoted from youth team), Yianni Perkatis (Pomoted from youth team), Matthew Spiranovic (free agent)
Outs: Dino Kresinger (Zavrc, SLO), Joey Gibbs (Newcastle), Tarek Elrich (Adelaide), Reece Caira (Wellington), Rocky Visconte (Suphanburi, THA)
VERDICT: Western Sydney Wanderers' players promise there will be no second year syndrome as they strive to better their extraordinary opening season, with Tony Popovic putting them through an exhausting, but typically thorough pre-season. The Wanderers' success came without a successful out-and-out striker, but with the addition of impressive youngster Tom Juric and Brendon Santalab's return to the competition, he arguably has more firepower at his disposal. Australian international Matthew Spiranovic has long been touted for big things, but perhaps Popovic is the man to finally get the most out of the defender. With Nikolai Topor-Stanley and Michael Beauchamp already on the books, it will be fascinating to see where Spiranovic fits into the equation.
MARK: 7.5/10
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