Star turn ... Marco Rojas has been a revelation this season. Source: News Limited
With the A-League season at its halfway point, Tom Smithies assesses each club's performance and future prospects
ADELAIDE UNITED
Season so far: United hit the ground running with four wins in their first five games and some inspired football.
An identical run in December suggested they were real title contenders but Christmas has been horrible - two consecutive defeats for the first time this season including a 6-1 mauling by the Wanderers.
Prospects: John Kosmina says he'll go back to basics and wants to see some fight above all else from his players to get their season back on track. Scrap ahead of skill is likely to be the order of the day.
BRISBANE ROAR
Season so far: As if to illustrate the fragility of every club's ecosystem, the Roar has all the ingredients of last year's success but lost the recipe with the departure of Ange Postecoglou.
Rado Vidosic's promotion to head coach was shortlived.
Prospects: Not convincing. Mike Mulvey to replace Vidosic was a strange choice for a club in need of strong leadership. Defeat against Perth in his first game suggested that the dressing room fissures are a long way from being healed.
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS
Season so far: Relentless would be the only word to describe Graham Arnold's men. The Mariners have added more flair to their superbly organised style.
Tom Rogic's playmaking earned him a Socceroos call-up at 19.
Prospects: Hard to see anyone stopping last year's premiers from holding on to their trophy this season.
The only question is whether the Mariners can slay the ghost of grand finals past and finally be crowned champions of Australia - and what Arnold will do then.
MELBOURNE HEART
Season so far: A change of coach and the loss of key players would test any side.
However, the Heart's lowly position belies some impressive performances from a youthful-based team and a coach in John Aloisi still wearing P-plates.
Prospects: In the long run, very good, but this season will be one to write off to experience. Aloisi has overseen the introduction of National Youth League pair Jeremy Walker and Sam Mitchinson and centreback David Vrankovic but finals football this year is hard to foresee.
MELBOURNE VICTORY
Season so far: You just knew two things when Ange Postecoglou moved south from Brisbane - that ultimately he would be successful but there would be pain along the way.
Three defeats in the first four games was a steep learning curve but slowly his methods are bearing fruit.
Prospects: Excellent. Victory are playing with a swagger and with strength, though defence remains their achilles heel.
NEWCASTLE JETS
Season so far: Gary van Egmond is lucky to have a club dedicated to the long term as performances and results have at times been disappointing, especially with Emile Heskey proving his worth with a clutch of goals.
Prospects: The Jets have put their faith in youth, and van Egmond must hope that they have the mental stamina to chase down a place in the finals - in addition to his injury list shortening.
PERTH GLORY
Season so far: As frustrating to play in as watch. Glory have some serious talent and opened the year with some cracking football that belied Ian Ferguson's direct reputation. But as results have faltered Glory have reverted to physical type.
Prospects: With Shane Smeltz leading the line they should always make the finals.
But Perth must improve upon an away record of four points from six games to come close to repeating last year's grand final appearance.
SYDNEY FC
Season so far: A horror show from day one. A weird mix of cut-price signings, promoted youth and Alessandro Del Piero has curdled to such an extent that one coach in Ian Crook has walked away.
Prospects: More strife in prospect. Frank Farina has found that the malaise infusing the FC dressing room isn't easily rectified and has warned the players that anyone who shirks will be shipped out.
Finals football looks like an impossible task.
WELLINGTON PHOENIX
Season so far: A curate's egg in which the team has struggled for consistency although Jeremy Brockie is blazing a goalscoring trail.
Usually a miserly defence, Phoenix have also shipped too many goals for comfort.
Prospects: Mediocre. Coach Ricki Herbert was a candidate for Sydney FC earlier in the year but after six years at the helm of the NZ Knights and then Phoenix the question that's hard to avoid is whether his methods still inspire as the quality of the league has gradually increased.
WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS
Season so far: An absolute triumph. Formed in a matter of months, the team has played with style and sophistication under Tony Popovic.
Prospects: Really exciting. Simply making the finals in their first year would be good but the 6-1 hammering of Adelaide suggested they may be contenders for honours.
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