After 10 campaigns five different teams have tasted the ultimate glory in Australian club football but, as always, all the combatants will believe they have a legitimate chance of playing finals football and be crowned champion after the Grand Final on Sunday 1 May 2016.
So there's no better time to unveil TWG's A-League season guide - to have and to hold as you enjoy the best football competition in the land - than the day Football Federation Australia officially launched the 2015-2016 campaign.
Coach: Guillermo Amor
Position last season: Third
Nickname: The Reds
Ground: Coopers Stadium
Capacity: 17,000
Players in: Iacapo La Rocca (Western Sydney Wanderers), George Mells (Free agent), Eli Babalj (on loan from AZ Alkmaar), Mate Dugandzic (Melbourne City)
Players out: Nigel Boogaard (Newcastle Jets), Cassio (released), Miguel Palanca (released), Awer Mabil (FC Midtjylland), Cameron Watson (Newcastle Jets), Paul Izzo (Central Coast Mariners)
Key man: Marcelo Carrusca. Now an established star in the competion, the Argentine is not as potent as a countryman that earns his living at the Camp Nou but he is crucial to Adelaide's hopes of finally ending its Championship drought. A playmaker of immense ability and creativity, when the 32 year-old is on song the Reds are a sight to behold but injury problems in recent times may be of concern.
Keep an eye on: Eli Babalj. Now trying his luck for the third time in the A-League, it's fast becoming make or break time for the 23 year-old - who is on loan from PEC Zwolle. The tall, elegant front-man must finally live up to his potential and find the net regularly - or face the prospect of becoming the next Kaz Patafta.
Why it will win: An experienced playing group that has only needed minor tweaks in the off-season and a tightly-knit group that plays for each other. With some big-game players in Sergio Cirio and Tarek Elrich and a captain that is among the best goalkeepers in the land, in Eugene Galekovic, confidence will be high.
Why it will struggle: A new coach at the helm and some early rumblings that a change in style is not suiting the players. With Amor in his first season in charge of a senior team and a lack of a proven goalscoring forward, it's tough to see the Reds consistently win the big games when the chips are down.
TWG tip: THIRD
Coach: John Aloisi
Position last season: Sixth
Nickname: Roar
Ground: Suncorp Stadium
Capacity: 52,461
Players in: Jamie Maclaren (Perth Glory), Corona (Almeria), George Lambadaridis (injury replacement)
Players out: Andrija Kaluderovic (released), George Lambadaridis (released), Adam Sarota (FC Utrecht - end of loan), Kofi Danning (Oakleigh Cannons), Lachlan Jackson (Newcastle Jets), Luke Brattan (released)
Key man: Thomas Broich. No surprises here. The German playmaker has been one of the best imports to grace the A-League and with the departure of Luke Brattan, his experience and class in midfield will be more crucial than ever.
Keep an eye on: Brandon Borello. The 20-year old attacker managed 22 appearances last season for Roar, cementing his place in the squad. He showed flashes of potential, with pace and composure in front of goal causing headaches for defenders. Expect him to chip in with a few more important strikes this time around.
Why it will win: Three championships in the past five seasons says it all about Roar. A winning mentality and experience in key positions makes Brisbane a threat to any side. Plus Jamie Maclaren’s arrival will help alleviate the burden of goals placed on other players since Besart Berisha’s departure.
Why it will struggle: Off field distractions including overdue payments to players, and an ownership saga, saw star midfielder Luke Brattan walk out on the club. It will be make or break for John Alosi, after a stint to forget at Melbourne City FC.
TWG tip: OUTSIDE THE TOP SIX
Coach: Tony Walmsley
Position last season: Eighth
Nickname: The Mariners
Ground: Central Coast Stadium
Capacity: 20,059
Players in: Roy O’Donovan (Brunei DPMM), Harry Ascroft (VVV-Venlo), Mitchell Austin (Cambridge United), Paul Izzo (Adelaide United), Daniel Heffernan (Heidelberg United), Josh Bingham (promoted), Jake McGing (promoted)
Players out: Mitchell Duke (Shimizu S-Pulse), Zac Anderson (Sydney FC), Matt Simon (Sydney FC), Brent Griffiths (released), Travis Major (released), Richard Vernes (Budapest Honved), Zac Cairncross (released), Dejan Pandurevic (released), Tom Slater (released), Isaka Cernak (released), Hayden Morton (released), Matthew Nash (retired – appointed goalkeeper coach), John Hutchinson (retired – appointed assistant coach)
Key man: Roy O’Donovan. The 30 year-old journeyman, who played under Roy Keane at Sunderland in the English Premier League, will carry the load up front. Central Coast netted the second fewest goals last season, scoring only three more than Newcastle jets, and the Mariners will be hoping O’Donovan can replicate his finishing from last year, when he scored 15 goals in 24 appearances for Brunei DPMM FC.
Keep an eye on: Fabio Ferreira. After joining the Mariners in January, Ferreira made an immediate impact by scoring three goals in nine appearances, including a brace against Sydney FC. The 26 year-old’s combination with O’Donovan will be the key in attempting to improve the Mariners’ goalscoring woes and the fans love the Portuguese's attacking thrusts.
Why it will win: The Mariners have recruited some decent attackers, along with impressive youngster Harry Ascroft, which will hopefully see the 2013 champion return to the finals series.
Why it will struggle: While O’Donovan and Ferreira could combine to score more goals for Central Coast this season, the losses of Duke, Anderson, Simon and Hutchinson could result in another disappointing campaign for the Mariners, who have been shorn of some quality players in the off-season.
TWG tip: OUTSIDE THE TOP SIX
Coach: John van't Schip
Position last season: Fifth
Nickname: City
Ground: AAMI Park
Capacity: 30,050
Players in: Corey Gameiro (Sydney FC), Ivan Franjic (Torpedo Moscow), Steve Kuzmanovski (Western Sydney Wanderers), Harry Novillo (permanent deal), Aaron Hughes (free agent), Michael Zullo (FC Utrecht), Bruno Fornaroli (free agent), Thomas Sørensen (free agent), Jason Trifiro (Western Sydney Wanderers)
Players out: Andrew Redmayne (Western Sydney Wanderers), Massimo Murdocca (Avondale FC), Mate Dugandzic (Adelaide United), Iain Ramsay (released), Rob Wielaert (released), Kew Jaliens (released), Damien Duff (released), Josh Kennedy (retired), Jason Hoffman (Newcastle Jets), Jonatan Germano (released)
Key man: Aaron Mooy. The Socceroos midfielder has come into this own at AAMI Park and at 25 he is the undisputed main man in a star-studded line-up. His performances will define City's season and in a more advanced midfield role he is more Paul Scholes than Andrea Pirlo, and is starting to get on the scoresheet on a regualr basis too.
Keep an eye on: Harry Novillo. The Lyon-born winger showed in his eight-game cameo last season that he has what it takes to excite fans and, more importantly, find the net. Earning a two-year deal after signing on as an injury-replacement player, a fit and firing Novillo has the pedigree and talent to tear rival defences apart.
Why it will win: A stack of new arrivals, including EPL veterans Aaron Hughes and Thomas Sorensen - have added quality in areas that were previously weaknesses with Ivan Franjic and Michael Zullo finally giving City a balanced defensive unit. A more potent look up from should also result in more goals, which has been the Achilles heel for the club since its inception as Melbourne Heart. Add to that the best training set-up in the land and the backing of City Football Group and it's a recipe for success.
Why it will struggle: The pressure is on Van't Schip to prove the doubters wrong and formulate a stategy that gets the best out of the team's components. With expectations high and a growing rivalry against its crosstown foe, the pressure will be on City to put its best foot forward and show that it no longer lives in the shadow of Victory.
TWG tip: FOURTH
Coach: Kevin Muscat
Position last season: Premiers' Plate
Nickname: Victory
Ground: AAMI Park and Ethiad Stadium
Capacity: 30,050 and 53,359
Players in: Oliver Bozanic (FC Luzren), Giancarlo Gallifuoco (Swansea City), Danny Vukovic (Perth Glory)
Players out: Mark Milligan (Baniyas), Jordan Brown (released), Nathan Coe (released), Andrew Nabbout (released)
Key man: Besart Berisha. Combining fierce intensity with ice cool finishing makes Berisha the best striker in the league. Not only does he have an unrivalled record for goals, 68 in 114 games in Australia, he produces in the big matches. Last season he scored the opening goal in the semi-final and the grand-final, his fourth goal in A-League deciders.
Keep an eye on: Fahid Ben Khalfallah. In the second half of last season he was Victory’s best player, and the best in the competition. The 32 year-old is a real threat as he can score and set up chances out of nothing. Last season he produced the most assists in the league with 11. His combination with Berisha, Gui Finkler and Kosta Barbarouses will have it raining goals.
Why it will win: See above. In addition to Berisha and Ben Khalfallah, it has the best squad, a coach who won the championship in his first full season and the league's biggest supporter base. Victory is now in the envious position of becoming a permanent giant of Australian football - Australia's Real Madrid, Juventus or Manchester United. In a salary capped league, it’s amazing what good management can do.
Why it will struggle: A Perth Glory style salary cap breach? It’s hard to see many other reasons. Perhaps the difficulty of juggling the AFCChampions League from February onwards could make things interesting.
TWG tip: PREMIERS' PLATE
Coach: Scott Miller
Position last season: Tenth
Nickname: The Jets
Ground: Hunter Stadium
Capacity: 33,000
Players in: Leonardo Vitor Santiago (1860 Munich), Nigel Boogaard (Adelaide United), Mateo Poljak (Western Sydney Wanderers), Labinot Haliti (Western Sydney Wanderers), Mark Birighitti (returns from loan), Jason Hoffman (Melbourne City), Cameron Watson (Adelaide United), Andy Brennan (South Melbourne), Themba Muata-Marlow (Sydney FC), Lachlan Jackson (Brisbane Roar)
Players out: Edson Montaño (Barcelona — end of loan), Scott Neville (Western Sydney Wanderers), Taylor Regan (released), Andrew Hoole (Sydney FC), John Solari (released), Allan Welsh (released), Sam Gallagher (released), James Virgili (released), Max Burgess (released), Travis Cooper (Adamstown Rosebud), Jacob Pepper (Western Sydney Wanderers), Zenon Caravella (released)
Key man: Leonardo. Like all good Brazilians, Leonardo is known by one name. Spells at Feyenoord, NAC Breda, Ajax and Ferencvaros reaped 31 goals in 190 matches, and silverware in the shape of the 2002 UEFA Cup, and domestic cup double with Ajax 2007. The winger will be key to supplying the bullets for Serbian attacker Milos Trifunovic.
Keep an eye on: Nigel Boogard. The Novacastrian, a product of the Weston Workers Bears, is returning home after a superb five-year stint at Adelaide United to skipper the Jets. Transformed from a useful defender into a key piece of Josep Gombau’s free-wheeling passing machine, Boogard's ability on the ball improved out of sight. He will need to maintain those lofty standards and steer clear of adding to his A-League record tally of six red cards if the new-look Jets are to flourish under Scott Miller.
Why it will win: Fresh blood in the shape of coach Miller, Trifunovic, Leonardo, Boogard, Daniel Mullen, Jason Hoffman, Cameron Watson, Mateo Poljak and the returning Labinot Haliti, will ensure a blank canvas from which to work.
Why it will struggle: Miller was a bolter, plucked from the obscurity of his role with Fulham’s U-21 side. It his first job as a first-team coach (he joined Fulham initially as a fitness coach in 2007) and he is the youngest coach in the history of the A-League - he has just turned 34. The job of rebuilding the embattled Jets is one for an experienced head, not someone learning on the job.
TWG tip: OUTSIDE THE TOP SIX
Coach: Kenny Lowe
Position last season: Seventh (DQ from finals series for salary cap violations)
Nickname: Glory
Ground: nib Stadium
Capacity: 20,441
Players in: Ante Covic ((Western Sydney Wanderers), Antony Golec (Western Sydney Wanderers), Jerrad Tyson (Sun Pegasus), Alex Grant (Stoke City), Hagi Gligor (Sydney FC), György Sándor (Free agent), Diego Castro (free agent), Marc Warren (APIA Leichhardt), Guyon Fernandez (NAC Breda)
Players out: Danny Vukovic (Melbourne Victory), Scott Jamieson (Western Sydney Wanderers), Brandon O’Neill (Sydney FC), Daniel De Silva (Roda JC), Youssouf Hersi (released), Jack Duncan (Randers FC), Rostyn Griffiths (Roda JC), Riley Woodcock (Sydney FC), Jamie Maclaren (Brisbane Roar), Andy Keogh (released)
Key man: Nebojsa Marinkovic. His ability to dictate play, and pin-point set pieces will be cruicial for Glory, which released several attacking players after the salary cap scandal last year. The Serbian may not score many goals but when he does, they are usually memorable.
Keep an eye on: Diego Castro. The Spaniard racked up 129 appearances for Getafe in La Liga, after 97 with Sporting Gijon, and at 33, the winger still has something to offer. With 44 goals La Liga he is just three short of John Aloisi's tally in Spain's top flight.
Why it will win: With a salary cap scandal and massive turnover of players not many sides will be expecting much from Perth, allowing it to play without the shackles of expectation.
Why it will struggle: A huge turnover of players and being a team in transition will make it hard for Glory to be competitive this year. Traditonally has struggled to win away from home, which is not good for a side that racks up frequet flyer points for fun.
TWG tip: OUTSIDE THE TOP SIX
Coach: Graham Arnold
Position last season: Second
Nickname: Sky Blues
Ground: Allianz Stadium
Capacity: 45,500
Players in: Filip Holosko (Besiktas), Milos Ninkovic (Evian), Matt Simon (Central Coast Mariners), Zac Anderson (Central Coast Mariners), Andrew Hoole (Newcastle Jets), Riley Woodcock (Perth Glory), Brandon O’Neill (Perth Glory), Alex Mullen (US College)
Players out: Marc Janko (FC Basel), Terry Antonis (PAOK), Bernie Ibini (Club Brugge), Corey Gameiro (Melbourne City), Nikola Petkovic (KVC Westerlo), Sasa Ognenovski (released), Nick Carle (released), Hagi Gligor (released), Peter Triantis (released)
Key man: Filip Holosko. The new Sky Blues overseas marquee will have massive boots to fill after his predecessor, Marc Janko netted 16 goals in 24 appearances last season. With a sizeable 65 caps for Slovakia, Holosko is a decent goal scorer in his own right, scoring 42 times during an eight-year stint with Besiktas. Coach Graham Arnold will be hoping the 31 year-old, who he intends to play on the right, can combine with Alex Brosque, Shane Smeltz and Matt Simon, to fill the goalscoring void.
Keep an eye on: Milos Ninkovic. Another off-season recruit, Ninkovic will wear the No.10 jersey, left vacant since the departure of Alessandro Del Piero, for the Sky Blues. The 30 year-old midfielder has made 28 appearances for Serbia and the former Dynamo Kyiv player has been described by team-mates as having an strong eye for goal.
Why it will win: The grand final aside, Sydney had a vastly impressive 2014-2015 campaign which it should build on. Look to the Sky Blues to make a fast start to the new season, with a favourable first month draw, which sees it face a string of sides that finished last year’s regular season outside the top four.
Why it will struggle: The loss of various stars, including Janko, Terry Antonis, Bernie Ibini and Corey Gamiero, cannot be underestimated for Sydney, and Graham Arnold will be praying his new recruits can live up to their billing.
TWG tip: SECOND
Coach: Ernie Merrick
Position last season: Fourth
Nickname: The Nix
Ground: Westpac Stadium
Capacity: 36,000
Players in: Blake Powell (APIA Leichhardt), Troy Danaskos (Sydney Olympic), Jeffrey Sarpong (NAC Breda)
Players out: Joel Griffiths (retired), Nathan Burns (FC Tokyo), Michael Boxall (SuperSport United) Josh Brindell-South (Lions FC), Jason Hicks (released), Kenny Cunningham (released)
Key man: Jeffrey Sarpong. The 27 year-old has been brought in to replace the star player from last season, Nathan Burns. The Netherlands youth international has some pedigree, playing over 100 games in the Eredivisie and 21 matches in La Liga with Real Sociedad. Primarily a wide attacker, Ernie Merrick is hoping to tranform Sarpong into a deadly striker.
Keep an eye on: Roly Bonevacia. He scored four goals and made seven assists last season, and with Burns gone he’ll need to lift. The Ajax youth-product gave the Phoenix extra control in matches last season through his passing ability and anticipation. A classy player who is key to Wellington's title hopes.
Why it will win: After finishing just seven points off Victory last season, Phoenix will be confident of building on success. With Wellington being one of the most difficult away trips, it should pick up a decent amount of points at home. Should Sarpong find the form that Merrick is promising we could see the Nix rise very high.
Why it will struggle: With Burns gone there is a player of the season sized hole to fill - that's 13 goals and six assists. Sarpong needs to hit the ground running and given he’s transitioning not only countries but positions, it could be very difficult.
TWG tip: SIXTH
Coach: Tony Popovic
Position last season: Ninth
Nickname: The Wanderers
Ground: Pirtek Stadium
Capacity: 21,000
Players in: Federico Piovaccari (Sampdoria), Scott Jamieson (Perth Glory), Scott Neville (Newcastle Jets), Mitch Nichols (Cerezo Osaka), Andrew Redmayne (Melbourne City), Jacob Pepper (Newcastle Jets), Andreu Guerao Mayoral (Racing Santander), Dimas Delgado (Recreativo), Alberto Aguilar (free transfer)
Players out: Tomi Juric (Roda JC), Matthew Spiranovic (Hangzhou Greentown), Kerem Bulut (Iraklis), Ante Covic (Perth Glory), Iacopo La Rocca (Adelaide United), Jason Trifiro (Melbourne City), Mateo Poljak (Newcastle Jets), Labinot Haliti (Newcastle Jets), Nick Ward (released), Adrian Madaschi (released), Nikita Rukavytsya (Beita Jerusalem), Nick Kalmar (released), Yianni Perkatis (released), Yusuke Tanaka (released), Antony Golec (Perth Glory), Steve Kuzmanovski (Melbourne City), Yojiro Takahagi (FC Seoul)
Key man: The RBB. The Wanderers’ famous 12th man has to make sure it steers clear of trouble, given reports of a crackdown on bad behaviour at Wanderers home games. The sensational support turns Pirtek Stadium into a cauldron for visiting sides, and they can’t afford to get bogged down in bureaucratic red tape, as after last season’s struggles their team needs them more than ever.
Keep an eye on: Dario Vidosic. After another spell overseas, this time at FC Sion, didn’t reap another contract, Vidosic is returning home for the second time and is very much in the last-chance saloon. The 28-year-old has to impress immediately for the Wanderers if he wants to catch the eye of Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou and earn one more shot at the European gravy train.
Why it will win: Andres Carrasco’s appointment to the Wanderers coaching staff promises a change of style, which will hopefully see Tony Popovic's side play more with the ball and try to dominate sides with possession. The signings of midfielders Dimas and Andreu, and defender Alberto, means the spine of the side will be singing from the same song sheet as Carrasco.
Why it will struggle: The Wanderers’ decision to release Ante Covic raised plenty of eyebrows. The veteran goalkeeper was outstanding inthe 2014 ACL campaign, but new keeper coach Zeljko Kalac will have to put his faith in the inexperienced pair of Dean Bouzanis and Andrew Redmayne. The early indication was that Bouzanis would be first choice, but Redmayne appears to have overtaken him in pre-season.
TWG tip: FIFTH
