AFTER another long and gruelling off-season, the A-League is finally upon us.

The Aussie top tier returns on October 19 as all 10 clubs debut new-look squads following months of departures and arrivals.

Some of last season’s biggest names have bid farewell to our shores, with the likes of Sydney FC duo Adrian Mierzejewski and Bobo as well as former Melbourne Victory star Leroy George headlining the list of exits.

But in their places arrive some heavily credentialed recruits, led by World Cup stars Keisuke Honda and Ola Toivonen and Sky Blues pair Adam Le Fondre and Siem De Jong. While experienced foreigners like Ross McCormack, Alex Lopez, Mirko Boland, Kalifa Cisse, Ritchie De Laet, Steven Taylor and Alex Baumjohann will be hoping to make their mark in 2018-19.

Plenty of Aussie stars have also found their way back home, with Aussie internationals David Williams, Jason Davidson, Chris Ikonimidis, Craig Goodwin, Matthew Spiranovic, Tommy Oar, Aiden O’Neill, Ben Halloran, Mark Birighitti and Curtis Good all returning to the A-League.

But which team is shaping up best?

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A-LEAGUE GUIDE: PREDICTIONS, SIGNINGS, VERDICT FOR 2018-19

FROM RETRO TO REVAMPED: EVERY A-LEAGUE SIDE’S KIT

PLAYER POLL: A-LEAGUE’S MOST UNDER-RATED PLAYERS

EVERY TEAM’S TRANSFER BUSINESS ANALYSED AND RATED

ADELAIDE UNITED

Danish player Ken Ilso is one of the additions to Adelaide United’s squad. Source: News Corp Australia

INS: Michael Jakobsen (Melbourne City FC), Craig Goodwin (Sparta Rotterdam), Ken Ilsø (unattached), Mirko Boland (Eintracht Braunschweig), Louis D’Arrigo (promoted), Scott Galloway (unattached), Ben Halloran (unattached)

OUTS: Tarek Elrich, Johan Absalonsen, Ben Garuccio, Dzengis Cavusevic, Mark Ochieng, Daniel Adlung, Jordan O’Doherty, Ersan Gulum

WHAT WENT RIGHT: Foreign pair Ken Ilso and Mirko Boland already appear astute additions after strong starts in the FFA Cup, while the return of fan favourite Craig Goodwin shapes as an excellent piece of business. Add in Jacobsen and Halloran and it’s a more than serviceable window for boss Marco Kurz.

WHAT WENT WRONG: The departure of influential stars Daniel Adlung and Johan Absalonsen could hurt them going forward this season, while some major exits could leave them light in the backline with Elrich, Garuccio and Gulum all gone.

RATING: 7/10

BRISBANE ROAR

Adam Taggart could be a major signing for Brisbane. Source: Getty Images

INS: Adam Taggart (Perth Glory), Dylan Wenzel-Halls (Western Pride), Stefan Mauk (NEC Nijmegen), Tobias Mikkelsen (Nordsjaelland), Stefan Nigro (unattached), Aaron Reardon (promoted), Alex Lopez (Sporting Gijon)

OUTS: Corey Gameiro, Mitchell Oxborrow, Jade North, Massimo Maccarone, Corey Brown, Fahid Ben Khalfallah (retired), Michael Theo, Ivan Franjic

WHAT WENT RIGHT: Former A-League Golden Boot winner Adam Taggart comes in to boost an uninspiring forward line, while signing Stefan Mauk showed last season that he has the potential to be a big star.

WHAT WENT WRONG: A range of their ageing stars are gone, and as such they’ll lose a great deal of experience. Between the exits of veteran quartet North, Ben Khalfallah, Theo and Franjic they farewell 558 games worth of A-League talent.

RATING: 6/10

CENTRAL COAST MARINERS

Tommy Oar and Ross McCormack both add quality and experience to the Central Coast Mariners. Source: News Corp Australia

INS: Jack Clisby, Jonathan Aspropotamitis (both Western Sydney Wanderers), Corey Gameiro (Brisbane Roar), Matt Simon (Sydney FC), Mario Shabow (Newcastle Jets), Joe Gauci (West Torrens Birkalla), Michael McGlinchey (Wellington Phoenix), Kalifa Cisse (BEC Tero Sasana), Peter Kekeris (promoted from youth team), Jordan Murray (APIA Leichhardt Tigers), Josh Macdonald (Wollongong Wolves), Aiden O’Neill (Burnley-loan), Matt Millar (South Melbourne), Ross McCormark (Aston Villa — loan), Tommy Oar (unattached)

OUTS: Josh Rose (retired), Trent Buhagiar, Liam Rose, Storm Roux, Jacob Poscoliero, Josh Bingham, Blake Powell, Peter Skapetis, Tom Glover, Wout Brama, Alan Baro, Daniel De Silva (loaned to Sydney FC)

WHAT WENT RIGHT: Most things. A huge amount of ins sees Mike Mulvey completely overhaul the wooden spooners. Kalifa Cisse brings Premier League experience; McGlinchey and Simon have won a title at the club before while Oar and McCormack bring some added flair to the attacking end of the pitch. While the additions of some NPL stars is also exciting. A phenomenal window.

WHAT WENT WRONG: The loss of both Trent Buhagiar and Danny De Silva threatened to leave a hole in their attack, but after excellent recruitment from new boss Mike Mulvey, they mightn’t be missed too much.

RATING: 9.5/10

MELBOURNE CITY

Daniel Arzani was City’s high profile exit. Source: AAP

INS: Michael O’Halloran (Rangers), Riley McGree (Club Brugge, loan), Lachlan Wales (Central Coast Mariners), Anthony Caceres (Manchester City, loan), Rostyn Griffiths (unattached), Florin Berenguer (FC Sochaux), Mark Birighitti (NAC Breda), Richie De Laet (Aston Villa — loan), Curtis Good (Newcastle United), Kearyn Baccus (Western Sydney Wanderers)

OUTS: Nick Fitzgerald, Manny Muscat, Bruce Kamau, Ruon Tongyik, Christian Cavallo, Stefan Mauk (loan ends), Marcin Budzinski, Oliver Bozanic, Denis Genreau (loan to PEC Zwolle) Daniel Arzani (Manchester City) Dean Bouzanis (loan to PEC Zwolle)

WHAT WENT RIGHT: Birighitti arrived as a quality replacement for the outgoing Bouzanis, De Laet will add quality at the back, while McGree, Griggiths and Berenguer arrive to boost a midfield that is now without heavily featuring trio Arzani, Bozanic and Mauk.

WHAT WENT WRONG: While probably inevitable after his breakout year, Arzani’s exit sees City lose their brightest young talent.

RATING: 7/10

MELBOURNE VICTORY

Keisuke Honda is one of the most highly credentialed players to feature in the A-League. Source: AAP

INS: Corey Brown (Brisbane Roar), Storm Roux (Central Coast Mariners), Georg Niedermeier (SC Freiburg), Nick Ansell (Tondela), Keisuke Honda (free agent), Ola Toivonen (Toulouse), Raul Baena (on loan from Granada)

OUTS: Stefan Nigro, Mitchell Austin, Matias Sanchez, Cameron McGilp, Christian Theoharous, Pierce Waring, James Donachie, Besart Berisha, Rhys Williams, Leroy George

WHAT WENT RIGHT: Keisuke Honda and Ola Toivonen arrive direct from the World Cup as some of the most highly credentialed stars ever seen in the A-League, while they’ve also added Bundesliga defender Georg Niedermeier.

WHAT WENT WRONG: The exits of star attackers Leroy George and Besart Berisha looked set to cripple their forward stocks… that was until the arrivals of Toivonen and Honda considerably softened the blow.

RATING: 9/10

NEWCASTLE JETS

Dimi Petratos has committed to the Jets. Source: Getty Images

INS: Matthew Ridenton (Wellington Phoenix), Jair Eduardo (Yanbian Funde), Mitch Austin (Melbourne Victory), Lewis Italiano (Stirling Lions), Kaine Sheppard (Avondale)

OUTS: Daniel Alessi, Devante Clut, Ivan Necevski, Riley McGree (loan ends), Pato Rodriguez, Mario Shabow, Wayne Brown, Jack Duncan

WHAT WENT RIGHT: Dimi Petratos and Steven Ugarkovic have both committed their futures to the club after playing vital roles in getting the Jets to last season’s grand final, while Jair Eduardo looks a good addition.

WHAT WENT WRONG: Last season’s first choice goalkeeper Jack Duncan has left for the Middle East and Riley McGree opted for a loan move to Melbourne City.

RATING: 6/10

PERTH GLORY

Tony Popovic has added several Socceroos to his squad. Source: AAP

INS: Ivan Franjic (Brisbane Roar), Tomislav Mrcela (unattached), Brendon Santalab (Western Sydney Wanderers), Matthew Spiranovic (unattached), Tando Velaphi (Wellington Phoenix), Jason Davidson (Rijeka), Fabio Ferreira (unattached), Juande (Spezia), Chris Ikonomidis (Lazio)

OUTS: Adam Taggart, Joseph Mills, Andreu Guerao, Jeremy Walker, Joe Knowles

WHAT WENT RIGHT: It started with the appointment of Tony Popovic, with the former Western Sydney Wanderers coach then adding some Socceroos quality in Matthew Spiranovic and Jason Davidson. The pick up of Chris Ikonomidis, lured by the Popa project, is another good one.

WHAT WENT WRONG: Adam Taggart apparently blindsided Perth by opting to leave for Brisbane and his departure is a significant one.

RATING: 7/10

SYDNEY FC

Siem de Jong has shown glimpses of his huge potential for Sydney. Source: AAP

INS: Trent Buhagiar (Central Coast Mariners), Siem De Jong (Ajax), Daniel De Silva (Central Coast Mariners, loan), Jop van der Linden (AZ Alkmaar), Adam le Fondre (Bolton Wanderers)

OUTS: Bobo, Adrian Mierzejewski, Jordy Buijs, Luke Wilkshire, Matt Simon, David Carney, Anthony Kalik, Fabio Ferreira

WHAT WENT RIGHT: The Sky Blues moved quickly to replace their departed stars and though they missed out on Fernando Torres, the additions of Adam Le Fondre, Siem de Jong and Jop Van Der Linden have almost evened things out.

WHAT WENT WRONG: Losing Bobo and Adrian Mierzejewski, easily two of the A-League’s best players last season, was a massive blow, while the departure of Jordy Buijs also left a gap at the back.

RATING: 8/10

WELLINGTON PHOENIX

Mark Rudan has brought in former Newcastle United captain Steven Taylor. Source: Getty Images

INS: Steven Taylor (Peterborough United), Filip Kurto (Roda JC), David Williams (Haladas), Mitch Nichols (unattached), Michal Kopczyński (Legia Wasaw, loan), Max Burgess (Sydney Olympic)

OUTS: Michael McGlinchey, Matthew Ridenton, Matija Ljucic, Andrija Kaluderovic, Goran Paracki

WHAT WENT RIGHT: Bringing in the experienced Steven Taylor, former captain of Newcastle United, is a boost to the Nix not only on the field, but off it.

WHAT WENT WRONG: Despite being linked to high-profile players Michael Essiem and Obafemi Martins, Wellington have failed to lure a marquee star. They also only have a squad of 17 players, meaning Mark Rudan desperately needs to add three more before the season starts.

RATING: 5/10

WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS

Markus Babbel is the A-League’s highest profile coach. Source: AAP

INS: Nick Fitzgerald, Bruce Kamau, Ruon Tongyik (all from Melbourne City), Tarek Elrich, Jordan O’Doherty (both from Adelaide United), Tass Mourdoukoutas (youth team), Danijel Nizic (Morecambe), Nicholas Suman (youth team), Patrick Ziegler (1. FC Kaiserslautern), Alex Baumjohann (Vitoria), Rashid Mahazi (Moreland Zebras)

OUTS: Jack Clisby, Alvaro Cejudo, Michael Thwaite, Chris Ikonomidis (loan ends), Jonathan Aspropotamitis, Brendon Santalab (Perth Glory), Steven Lustica (released), Kearyn Baccus (Western Sydney Wanderers)

WHAT WENT RIGHT: The Wanderers brought in the highest profile coach the A-League has had in Markus Babbel and the German has added quality in Alex Baumjohann and Patrick Ziegler, both from his home country.

WHAT WENT WRONG: The Wanderers lost a marquee player in Alvaro Cejudo and haven’t filled it, while it would have been useful to hang onto youngsters Jonathan Aspropotamitis and Chris Ikonomidis.

RATING: 7/10