Change is one of the few constants in the A-League Men. And while that can take many forms, it's perhaps no more evident than in the sheer number of comings and goings that take place across the league's squads each and every year, and the fresh waves of youth that are promoted into clubs' ranks as they continue to battle with the economic downturn that has defined the competition's 2020s.
Heading into the 2026-27 campaign -- the 22nd staging of the A-League-- for instance, Brisbane Roar are listed on the competition's official website as having a staggering 28 changes to their side from last season; 11 players joining Michael Valkanis' unit and 17 heading for the exit. Macarthur FC, meanwhile, have gone even further, not only adding 13 players and saying goodbye to 17 more, but also swapping Mile Sterjovski for Sasa Ognenovski in the dugout.
It's a reality -- not so much a choice, given the league's overarching economic limitations -- that has both its ups and downs. Due to the austerity forcing clubs' hands, players that have come from the A-League in recent years are increasingly shaping up as one of the most promising Socceroos generations in years, with the likes of Nestory Irankunda, Mohamed Touré, Paul Okon-Engstler, Patrick Beach, and Lucas Herrington all emerging in recent years. This phenomenon, meanwhile, is finally seeing clubs properly attempt to build and contract squads in a manner that allows them to tap into the revenue streams of the global transfer market. But the lack of money to sign and retain top-line talent has also had an undeniable effect on the overall quality of the league, as well as supporters' ability to connect and get excited about those that remain.
The league is no longer in a place, for instance, where Melbourne Victory could run out a frontline featuring Keisuke Honda, Ola Toivonen, Kosta Barbarouses, James Troisi, and Terry Antonis, as they did during the 2018-19 campaign. And while Sydney FC shape as one of the favourites for the title under Patrick Kisnorbo this season -- his guidance of the side to last year's final despite only taking charge in March was par for the course for him in the A-League -- few would be taking this iteration over Graham Arnold and his 2016-17 Sky Blue killbots led by Bobô, Miloš Ninković, Alex Brosque, Jordy Buijs, and Alex Wilkinson.
Nonetheless, with plenty having changed since Auckland FC became the first-ever Kiwi side to win a top-flight Australian competition, those just dipping their toes back into the A-League waters ahead of the new season may require a guide. And if you do, ESPN has you covered, with a rundown of the ins and outs, key players, and possible outlooks for the new season.
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Adelaide United
2025-26 finish: 2nd, semifinals | Coach: Airton Andrioli | Key player: Craig Goodwin
Breakout candidate: Ryan White | Major signing: Jacob Brazete | Major loss: Luka Jovanovic
Best-case scenario: Adelaide's approach to developing from within continues to pay dividends, with the likes of White, Jonny Yull, Panagiotis Kikianis, and Ethan Alagich establishing themselves amongst the competition's best. Another finals appearance is secured and, taking the lessons from their semifinal loss to Auckland last year, Adelaide make the A-League Grand Final.
Worst-case scenario: The South Australian talent pool can no longer sustain the Reds' lack of activity in the transfer market. They slip down the table and ultimately miss the playoffs on the final day of the campaign, with another round of sales coming soon after and inertia, again, characterising their efforts to replace them.
Likely scenario: The young talent the Reds possess do take another step, but improved seasons from the league's heavyweights mean there's less margin for error when injuries or capricious form strikes. They make the finals once more and bring a level of excitement but, ultimately, it's the Socceroos more than the Reds that benefit in the long run. -- Lynch
Predicted finish: 6th
Auckland FC
2025-26 finish: 3rd, champions | Coach: Pedro Moreira | Key player: Sam Cosgrove
Breakout candidate: Daniel Normann | Major signing: Lachlan Bayliss | Major loss: Jesse Randall
Best-case scenario: Moreira follows Arne Slot's first-season managerial blueprint at Liverpool, making subtle tweaks rather than overhauling the reigning champions. Louis Verstraete's departure is barely felt as Bayliss, buoyed by his FIFA World Cup experience with New Zealand, establishes himself among the league's best midfielders. Auckland go back-to-back.
Worst-case scenario: Losing Verstraete, Randall, Guillermo May, Dan Hall and inaugural coach Steve Corica destabilises Auckland. After a winless opening three games, they suffer their first derby defeat to Wellington Phoenix. Moreira comes under pressure, Cosgrove's goals dry up without his former teammates, and captain Hiroki Sakai suffers an early injury. Auckland miss finals.
Likely scenario: The player and coaching departures take time to adjust to, with Auckland no longer the relentless winning machine of their first two seasons. Moreira gradually puts his stamp on the squad as Cosgrove, still in his prime, continues scoring freely. Auckland remain competitive, making finals but falling short of top honours. -- Sheldon
Predicted finish: 4th
Brisbane Roar
2025-26 finish: 11th | Coach: Michael Valkanis | Key player: Dean Bouzanis
Breakout candidate: Justin Vidic | Major signing: Tyrese Francois | Major loss: Jay O'Shea
Best-case scenario: Nam Tae-Hee, 35, rolls back the years, filling O'Shea's creative void. Francois fulfils his potential, earning a Socceroos debut, while young-gun striker Vidic takes his game to another level. Valkanis restores the defensive structure lost after Herrington's departure, with Tom Aldred winding back the years to be one of the league's most formidable defenders. Brisbane end their five-season finals drought.
Worst-case scenario: Brisbane leak goals as Aldred, 36, struggles against younger attackers. Virgiliu Postolachi's modest goalscoring record follows him to Australia, leaving the Roar enduring another season starved of goals. With Brisbane rooted near the bottom, Valkanis' siege mentality and touchline antics wear thin. Fans demand attacking football and his sacking.
Likely scenario: Valkanis learns from last season's mistakes, developing attacking structures rather than relying solely on defensive grit and dark arts. Brisbane rediscover their defensive solidity, while Francois shows glimpses of his Fulham pedigree and Tae-Hee provides flashes of creativity. But O'Shea's departure is keenly felt and the Roar remain inconsistent. -- Sheldon
Predicted finish: 9th
Central Coast Mariners
2025-26 finish: 9th | Coach: John Hutchinson | Key player: Haine Eames
Breakout candidate: Presley Ortiz | Major signing: Noah McCann | Major loss: Brad Tapp
Best-case scenario: Newly appointed coach Hutchinson turns out to be the best developer of talent Australian football has seen in decades and is able to get the disparate collection of youth assembled in Gosford to punch above their weight. Results aren't always there, but they're rarely hammered and, as Ortiz makes the leap from NPLM NSW to the A-League, they comfortably avoid a wooden spoon.
Worst-case scenario: A heavy defeat in a season-opening F3 Derby augurs a disastrous start to the campaign, with the Mariners still searching for their first win heading into 2027. Andrew Redmayne keeps them in games but is benched to get minutes into one of their new teenage goalkeeping signings, and the Mariners crash to the spoon.
Likely scenario: Fielding a first XI with an average age that would have qualified them for the Y-League isn't a recipe for success, and the Mariners crash down the table. Seeing their club used as a transit lounge for players earmarked for perceived "better" places by their new owners leaves supporters disillusioned. -- Lynch
Predicted finish: 12th
Macarthur FC
2025-26 finish: 7th | Coach: Sasa Ognenovski | Key player: Ryan Fraser
Breakout candidate: Musa Toure | Major signing: Ryan Fraser | Major loss: Luke Brattan
Best-case scenario: Ognenovski excels in his first A-League head coaching role, galvanising the perennial underachievers. His recruits flourish: Jonathan Aspropotamitis becomes a defensive colossus; former Premier League winger Fraser terrorises defences and wins the Johnny Warren Medal; and Apostolos Stamatelopoulos tops the scoring charts. Macarthur's attractive football draws bigger crowds and delivers a top-four finish.
Worst-case scenario: With so many new recruits, the manager struggles to make the pieces fit. The departures of Socceroos Anthony Caceres and Brattan leave gaping holes in midfield, while Stamatelopoulos fails to shake off his frustrating Sydney FC spell or replace Mitch Duke's goals. Crowds dwindle from last season's league-low 4,193 average. Macarthur miss finals.
Likely scenario: Ognenovski is an unknown quantity but has promised football played with "bravery and purpose." Fraser, a handful for defenders during his brief Wanderers stint, and young-gun striker Ben Gibson should help deliver that. Without Asian commitments, Macarthur play more entertaining football, attract slightly bigger crowds but narrowly miss the top six. -- Sheldon
Predicted finish: 8th
Melbourne City
2025-26 finish: 6th, elimination final | Coach: Aurelio Vidmar | Key player: Max Caputo
Breakout candidate: Besian Kutleshi | Major signing: Awer Mabil | Major loss: Marcus Younis
Best-case scenario: Entering his third full season as the anointed spearhead and with the likes of Mabil, Mat Leckie, and Emiliano Marcondes feeding him, Caputo starts to put together the consistent goalscoring form that's been missing from his game. With the goals that were lacking last season now coming, and their structure covering for their light defensive depth, City rocket to another premiership.
Worst-case scenario: The epidemic of injuries that have hit key contributors in recent campaigns somehow manages to get worse, and it drags City down. Finals are missed for the first time in the CFG-era, and an existential crisis emerges when Abu Dhabi signals it's getting out of football after crippling sanctions are handed down to Manchester City.
Likely scenario: Mabil's signing retains some of the electricity Younis brought while on loan, and while it takes a month or two to click into gear, City's attack eventually roars to life. Either Caputo or Medin Memeti score double-digit goals (maybe both) as Vidmar's side pushes for another premiership. -- Lynch
Predicted finish: 3rd
Melbourne Victory
2025-26 finish: 4th, elimination final | Coach: Giovanni Savarese | Key player: Denis Genreau
Breakout candidate: Oliver Dragicevic | Major signing: Philipp Ziereis | Major loss: Juan Mata
Best-case scenario: Victory shakes off the disappointment of their Australia Cup final defeat to South Melbourne to hit the ground running under Savarese and are unbeaten heading into the Christmas Derby. Genreau and Franco Lino earn AFC Asian Cup call-ups, and they're joined in the Socceroos setup in March by Jordi Valadon. Guillermo May adds creativity as Harrison Sawyer wins the Golden Boot, with Charles Nduka not far behind, and they win the premiership.
Worst-case scenario: The Australia Cup final loss portends a downturn and, as the wizardry of Mata can't adequately be replaced, Victory, though maintaining a strong defensive structure, increasingly bog down in possession as the campaign drags on. The talent on hand means they scrape into finals, but they fail to do much once there, and fans demand the ouster of Savarese and director of football John Didulica in retribution.
Likely scenario: After inheriting a side without that many holes -- especially in a modern A-League context -- Savarese builds upon the momentum of an Australia Cup run, and while the Australia Cup final is representative of the early stumbles as it all clicks together, May, Genreau, and D'Arrigo should help Victory establish themselves as title-contenders heading into 2027. -- Lynch
Predicted finish: 1st
Newcastle Jets
2025-26 finish: 1st, semifinals | Coach: Mark Milligan | Key player: Max Burgess
Breakout candidate: Alexander Badolato | Major signing: Joe Lolley | Major loss: Eli Adams
Best-case scenario: Milligan is able to further evolve his game style in his sophomore coaching campaign, and the Jets, despite losing several key players, continue to prove box-office on their way to a top-four finish. After recovering from his ACL injury, Badolato leads the league in goal involvements and is called up for the March international window, where he's joined by his skipper, Burgess.
Worst-case scenario: A season-opening loss to the Mariners does prove to be an ill omen this time around, and the loss of half a dozen key players during the offseason takes its toll. After Milligan is poached for the Socceroos role when Tony Popovic opts not to renew post-Asian Cup, the Jets miss finals amid further reports of missed payments.
Likely scenario: Some really nice football continues to be played in the Hunter and Badolato does pick up where he left off, but the sheer volume of talent that's departed in the offseason, combined with improved seasons from traditional powers, forces a lull. They're in the finals mix, but another exodus of talent occurs in the offseason. -- Lynch
Predicted finish: 5th
Perth Glory
2025-26 finish: 10th | Coach: Adam Griffiths | Key player: Tom Lawrence
Breakout candidate: Sebastian Despotovski | Major signing: Calem Nieuwenhof | Major loss: Adam Taggart
Best-case scenario: Griffiths works wonders in his first full season, turning Perth into surprise contenders. Lawrence thrives following Taggart's departure, while Despotovski builds on last season's promise, evoking memories of his legendary father, Bobby. Nieuwenhof brings midfield balance, Brian Kaltak marshals the defence and the Shed roars as Glory make a late-season finals surge.
Worst-case scenario: Taggart's departure compounds Perth's attacking woes after just 32 goals last season. Lawrence and Jaiden Kucharski fail to fill the void. In defence, Kaltak's early-season wobbles return without a recovery, while retired stalwart Scott Wootton is missed. Griffiths' honeymoon ends abruptly as Glory collect the wooden spoon, missing finals for a seventh consecutive season.
Likely scenario: Griffiths builds on last season's foundations, implementing his preferred attacking football. Speedy Kucharski forms a promising partnership with Lawrence, making Glory entertaining to watch. Nieuwenhof adds balance in midfield, while Kaltak provides a commanding presence at the back. Perth claim a number of impressive wins, but inconsistency proves costly as they miss finals. -- Sheldon
Predicted finish: 10th
Sydney FC
2025-26 finish: 5th, runners-up | Coach: Patrick Kisnorbo | Key player: Tiago Quintal
Breakout candidate: James Overy | Major signing: Takahiro Sekine | Major loss: Paul Okon-Engstler
Best-case scenario: With a full preseason and a squad reshaped to his liking, Kisnorbo builds on last season's Grand Final run. Sekine seamlessly replaces Lolley, Overy emerges as a Socceroos right-back contender and the mercurial Al Hassan Toure finally finds consistency. Sydney finish top and beat Victory in a home Grand Final.
Worst-case scenario: Okon-Engstler's guile and control are sorely missed. Already short on midfield experience, Sydney lose his replacement -- academy graduate Wataru Kamijo -- to injury and are regularly overrun. Kisnorbo grinds out results but, frustrated by the lack of reinforcements, departs midseason for another crack at European football.
Likely scenario: Kisnorbo's arrival breathed new life into Sydney last season; he was unbeaten until the Grand Final defeat. An Australia Cup semifinal appearance suggests the momentum has continued. Despite key departures, Sekine and Overy bolster a talented squad including veterans Marcel Tisserand and Rhyan Grant. A season without a major trophy would be a failure. -- Sheldon
Predicted finish: 2nd
Wellington Phoenix
2025-26 finish: 8th | Coach: Chris Greenacre | Key player: Alex Rufer
Breakout candidate: Riley Bidois | Major signing: Bryce Duke | Major loss: Ifeanyi Eze
Best-case scenario: Club legend Greenacre navigates a squad overhaul, restoring "family vibes" and prioritising Kiwi talent. Corban Piper thrives in an advanced role, making fans forget Eze, while Bidois starts scoring early, his confidence soaring. Duke adds midfield class as Wellington finally claim a maiden derby victory over Auckland and scrape into finals.
Worst-case scenario: Having scored just 36 goals last season, Wellington struggle to replace top scorer Eze's firepower and Carlo Armiento's marauding runs down the flank. Rafael Durán, who managed four goals at Macarthur, fails to justify a visa spot. Defensive stalwart Tim Payne is missed, while another Auckland derby defeat compounds their wooden-spoon misery.
Likely scenario: It's hard to be optimistic. Greenacre knows the club inside out, having been involved since 2009, and his experience developing Kiwi youngsters should benefit the next generation. But despite his efforts to rebuild, Wellington lack the quality and firepower to compete consistently. Having conceded a league-high 48 goals last season, the Phoenix struggle again and finish close to the bottom of the league. -- Sheldon
Predicted finish: 11th
Western Sydney Wanderers
2025-26 finish: 12th | Coach: Ufuk Talay | Key player: Dylan Scicluna
Breakout candidate: Awan Lual | Major signing: Nicolas Milanović | Major loss: Ryan Fraser
Best-case scenario: The sleeping giant awakens, and the bell Talay's for the rest of the league. As Scicluna and Milanović form one of the most effective double acts the league has seen in recent years, Lual goes from NPLM NSW Golden Boot winner to A-League Golden Boot winner and a top four finish is secured. After breathless midseason reports linked him to Barcelona, Lual moves to a Europa League-bound European outfit in the offseason for a tidy sum, as does Scicluna.
Worst-case scenario: The Wanderers flatter to deceive. Again. They miss finals. Again. The coach comes under fire from fans and is sacked. Again. We all agree to meet back here next year for the hype train. Again.
Likely scenario: After the first wooden spoon in their history, there's significant improvement from the Wanderers, and they rise up the table. On paper, the likeliest scenario is a return to finals football and challenging come campaign's end. But the Wanderers have long since lost that benefit of the doubt. -- Lynch
Predicted finish: 7th