Peter Jungschläger

Dutch midfielder Peter Jungschläger spent just one year in Australia, making 22 appearances for Gold Coast United in the club’s final year.

Often deployed as a holding midfielder, Jungschläger came though the youth academy at Dutch Eredivisie side ADO Den Haag before making the step up to the first team in 2005.

Jungschläger stayed in the Netherlands for the next six years, with his best spell coming at De Graafschap where he played 83 times.

In 2011 he joined Gold Coast on a permanent deal, though his stay in the A-League didn’t last long.

While at Gold Coast, Jungschläger did score two rare goals in a three games spell against Melbourne Heart and Melbourne Victory. Unfortunately, United still lost both games.

Jungschläger moved back to the Netherlands at the end of the 2011/12 season, signing for RKC Waalwijk. He is currently playing for SVV Scheveningen in the Dutch fourth tier.

Josh Brillante

Midfield workhorse Josh Brillante has emerged as a pivotal player for table-topping Sydney FC this season. Yet, just five years ago he was scrapping at the bottom of the A-League with a side on the brink of extinction.

Brillante made his debut for Gold Coast United at the age of 17 in a 2-1 defeat to North Queensland Fury.

In United’s final season, the Aussie enforcer featured just 12 times and was only involved in one of the team’s four victories that campaign.

In 2012 Brillante joined the Newcastle Jets where he was awarded the club’s player of the year award for the 2013/14 season. Brillante also earned a call-up to the Socceroos’ provisional 2014 World Cup squad.

The Aussie battler then made the switch to Italy, but his opportunities at Serie A giants Fiorentina were limited.

That prompted a move back to Australia at the start of this season. Since then Brillante has missed just two league games for Sydney and has rapidly become one of the Sky Blues’ most important players.

Jake Barker-Daish

Once a promising youngster, the career of midfielder Jake Barker-Daish appears to have stalled a little over the last few years.

After two seasons in the A-League with Gold Coast United and Adelaide United, Barker-Daish took a step down to the National Premier Leagues Victoria, signing for South Melbourne FC before switching to Richmond Soccer Club a year later. 

Following Richmond’s relegation from the National Premier League, Barker-Danish joined Melbourne Knights FC at the start of this year.

Still only 23, the midfielder has time to make it back to the top and his performances in the next few years will determine how far he goes.