The Top 50 Australians Of 2008/9

Fab has based his recent rise on hard work and a penchant for scoring key goals. Assigned with marking Brazilian World Cup winner Rivaldo in the Asian Champions League semi-final against Bunyodkor, Barbiero kept his midfield rival quiet and even managed to score himself in the 3-0 win. A graduate from the SA state leagues, Fab's hard worked paid off when he was named in the Socceroos' Asian Cup qualifying squad and made a cameo against Kuwait for his first cap.

39
Paul Reid
Age 29
Position Midfielder
Club Adelaide United

Paul Reid once formed part of Australia's golden generation of players. Unfortunately for the former Wollongong Wolves midfielder, his career didn't take the upward curve that
his youth team compatriots at Marconi - Brett Emerton and Harry Kewell - did.

When asked for his first impressions of a young Kewell, then coach at Sydney Olympic (and Harry's current manager), Bernie Mandic, was more impressed with a young Reid.
"When we played Marconi, Paul Reid was the best out of all of them [Kewell, Emerton and Reid]," said Mandic. But while Emerton and Kewell have gone on to have top flight European careers and represent Australia over 100 times between them, Reid wallowed in the lower leagues in England and only made his international debut this year.

Reid joined English side Bradford City in 2002, but was released two years later. He then signed with Brighton & Hove Albion before receiving a similar fait last year when the League One side let him go.

A return to the A-League last season with Adelaide rejuvenated Reid. He formed a solid, reliable midfield cornerstone of Adelaide's journey to the ACL and Grand Final. He was rewarded by making the Socceroos Asian Cup qualifiers squad and, at 29, the man once believed to be better than Kewell made his Socceroos debut in front of 88,000 people in Indonesia.

"That was what I was striving for," said Reid at the time. "I came back here [to Australia] to get into the Socceroos squad."

Gaining a regular Socceroos gig is a bigger ask. Australia's midfield is overflowing with holding midfielders such as Grella, Valeri, Emerton, Jedinak and Culina - all of which sit higher in our list.

However Reid is still testimony to the value of the A-League. He may be turning 30 this month, but he is playing the most consistent football of his career. If he can stay free of the injuries which plagued his time in England, then Reid can look forward to a fitting domestic swansong.

Hopefully there can be a silver lining for the once golden generation graduate after all?

38
Tom Pondeljak
Age 33
Position Midfielder
Club Melbourne Victory

A few years back, Tom Pondeljak could have been forgiven for thinking the best years of his career were behind him. Four caps in 2002 seemed the highlight as he neared his 30s, but along came the A-League and another chapter was written.

An NSL stalwart for several years, when the A-League formed he served Central Coast Mariners well for the first three years.

A return to his hometown of Melbourne last year provided the opportunity for the defining season and moment of his career - Pondeljak's winner in Victory's second Grand Final triumph was also enough to land him the Joe Marston Medal for man of the match.

Boasting a healthy scoring rate wherever he has played, his form throughout the year also enabled him to swell his Australian caps count in the Asian Cup qualifiers.

37
Mark Viduka
Age 33
Position Striker
Club Uncontracted

One of the most naturally gifted Australian players ever is a constant frustration to club and country supporters alike. It is hard to place Dukes higher
on this list after 12 months which yielded no Socceroos performances and only six club level starts with no goals before relegation. However when the V-Bomber did return for the Toon's run-in, he showed flashes of the class we all know he possesses. Not that we're ever likely to see him in the Green and Gold again after his latest national team snub.

36
Mark Milligan
Age 23
Position Centre-back
Club Shanghai Shenhua (China)

Milligan was the shock inclusion in Australia's 2006 World Cup squad. Since then the versatile defender looked to have de-railed his career by aiming a too high too soon after leaving Sydney FC. As well as trialling in Europe, Milligan exhausted himself with a schedule that saw him turn out in the A-League, as well as for the Olyroos and Socceroos.

A move to the Chinese Super League has re-invigorated him however, where he is again beginning to realise the genuine potential he has. RY

35
Tarek Elrich
Age 22
Position Right-back
Club Newcastle Jets

The form of this Elrich brother was effectively the only positive to come from Newcastle Jets' limp title defence last season. Wooden spoon recipients maybe, but Olyroo Elrich's lightning acceleration, petrifying pace and sheer determination made him solid at the back and threatening going forward. Versatile enough to move into midfield and still only 22, if Elrich maintains his current curve of development he could be a shock bolter for inclusion in the South Africa squad.

34
Danny Allsopp
Age 30
Position Striker
Club Melbourne Victory

This speedster may not get the accolades of strike partner Archie Thompson, but there is little doubt his form has a direct correlation to the fortunes of his team. Impressively, Allsopp netted 12 and 13 times in the 2006/07 and 2008/09 seasons to deliver a major contribution to Victory's two championships. Even more encouraging is the ruthless streak that emerged last year. Allsopp's memorable sideline clash with Sydney FC's John Kosmina was just one example of his new win-at-all costs attitude.

33
Rodrigo Vargas
Age 30
Position Centre-back
Club Melbourne Victory

Vargas spent most of last year looking like Red Hot Chili Peppers' Anthony Kiedis, but a now clean shaven Roddy didn't give anything away in his rollercoaster year. As Victory sweeped the board in Australia, his partnership with captain Kevin Muscat was the platform for such domination. After years hovering on the outskirts of Socceroo squads, Vargas finally made his international debut against Indonesia in January and was easily Australia's best player in the goalless stalemate.

32
Billy Celeski
Age 23
Position Midfielder
Club Melbourne Victory

There was little joy to be taken out of the Olyroo's performance at the Beijing Olympics, but Celeski was one player who emerged from the tournament with his reputation enhanced. The livewire midfielder is tireless, giving teammates options in attack and works equally hard when tracking back. Still only 23, Celeski has won a state championship with Bulleen and became an integral member of Victory's championship-winning side, starting 23 matches during
the successful campaign.

31
Michael Petkovic
Age 32
Position Goalkeeper
Club Sivasspor (Turkey)

With Mark Schwarzer possibly hanging up his gloves after the World Cup next year, the race to be his successor is well and truly on. With his recent success in Turkey, Petkovic will fancy his chances after helping take unfancied Sivasspor to second place in the Turkish Super Lig and into the Champions League qualifying stage. A regular throughout the campaign, he even managed to score from his own penalty box after a mammoth clearance found the net.

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