10
Joel Porter
Age 28
Position Striker
Club Gold Coast United

It may surprise some that a Hartlepool player who hasn't played for the Socceroos since 2002 would finish in the top ten.

But ask anyone down at Victoria Park and they'll tell you about a player who has become a club legend after six years and more than 60 goals, including 23 last season, for the "monkey-hangers".

Now at Gold Coast, if he can continue his Hartlepool form, we'll all be able to see why he's rated so highly. Put him down as one of the dark horses for the World Cup finals squad.

9
Mark Bresciano
Age 29
Position Midfielder
Club Palermo (Italy)

There is a feeling that Bresc's stay in Italy has gone off the boil ever since the goal happy midfielder stated his desire to leave the Rosanero.

After the Asian Cup in 2007, a move to the EPL with Manchester City seemed a done deal. "I needed a new challenge and I wanted to get the excitement factor back into my game," he said at the time.

But after the transfer fell flat, so did Palermo fans' enthusiasm for their want-away Aussie. "Many of us haven't forgiven him for wanting that move to Manchester City," said Palermo fan Steven van Duyse.

Donning the famous pink Palermo shirt last season came off the back of further transfer speculation but Bresc played on in a massive test of character. To make matters worse, he found himself on the bench more than usual but when given his opportunity, he gave the perfect response to the passionate Sicilian fans. In January, Bresc's side travelled to Sampdoria and won 2-0, both goals coming from the shiny head of the midfielder.
The ability to score at crucial times is what makes Bresc such a dangerous asset for Australia. Few will forget his goal in Sydney during the World Cup play-off against Uruguay in 2005. Aloisi's penalty is the eternal memory, but it wouldn't have been possible without Bresc's goal.

His penchant for vital goals and performances has been evident again in Australia's convincing World Cup qualification campaign.

When the Socceroos travelled to Bahrain in November, they were thoroughly outplayed by their hosts. While the Socceroos created next to nothing for 90 minutes, Al-Ahmar peppered the goal and missed a host of chances. One mistake in the dying seconds made the difference. Bahrain captain Mohamed Husain failed to cut out a hopeful long pass and Bresc latched onto the ball, steadied himself and lashed the ball in. The performance didn't deserve the win, but Bresc's goal did.

When Uzbekistan travelled to Sydney in April, a 2-0 victory all but ensured World Cup finals football next year. Bresc starred in one of his best outings for Australia, crossing for Kennedy's 66th-minute opener in a near perfect personal performance.

8
Luke Wilkshire
Age 27
Position Right-back
Club Dynamo Moscow (Russia)

Guus Hiddink turned this attacking right-back from a struggling figure in the English leagues to a regular for the Socceroos in 2006. After the World Cup Wilkshire joined Dutch side FC Twente and helped the club to their first ever Champions League appearance, but last year Wilkshire achieved another first - an Australian playing in Russia. Wilkshire moved to Dynamo Moscow and has impressed in his frosty new surroundings, helping his team reach the Russian Cup semis.

7
Scott Chipperfield
Age 33
Position Winger
Club Basel (Switzerland)

Chippers is the Benjamin Button of Australian football - at 33, he keeps getting better with age. Despite being strongly linked with a move back home, the free-scoring defender-cum-midfielder
has earned a one year extension to his deal in Europe. You can understand why too. He was Basel's top scorer with 12 goals, including a domestic hat-trick in March. He's "chipped-in" for the Socceroos too, including his winner away at Uzbekistan.

6
Jason Culina
Age 28
Position Midfielder
Club Gold Coast United

The highest placed A-League player on the list, but it is on foreign shores where Culina earned his spot. After nine years in the Dutch league the technically gifted, intelligent midfielder has heralded a
new era for the A-League by returning at the height of his powers. Despite his consistent performances for club and country, Pim has expressed concern about his return,
but Culina will be given more attacking licence at Gold Coast which could add a new dimension to his game.

5
Scott McDonald
Age 25
Position Striker
Club Celtic (Scotland)

No Australian player scores more goals than Macca. It's a surprise he is yet to break his duck in 13 Socceroos outings, but the stocky goal poacher finds himself in our top five based on club form. 19 goals for the Hoops this season wasn't enough to land the SPL title, but the club's top scorer carried his misfiring teammates all season. Doubters might point to the weaker Scottish league, but tell that to Manchester United, who fell victim to Macca's classy and composed lob during their visit in the Champions League.

4
Lucas Neill
Age 31
Position Centre-back
Club Uncontracted

As club and country captain, Neill spent the last 12 months proving why he is Australia's leader. An injury ravaged squad, a unproven boss and a heavily indebted owner had West Ham fans worried. However Neill regained some of his best form to steady the ship and guide the Hammers into ninth. With his contract up, it could prove to be a swansong. For the Socceroos, Lucas was again impeccable as the team formed the tightest defence in Asian World Cup qualifying.

3
Harry Kewell
Age 30
Position Winger
Club Galatasaray (Turkey)

With a heavy heart Australians have watched their favourite footballing son struggle with injuries and form during his ruinous spell with Liverpool.

In June last year, Kewell's Liverpool contract expired and a new era for the most naturally gifted Australian player of his generation awaited.

"I wanted to move on and this is the best way," said Kewell after inking his deal in Turkey with Galatasaray. "I can't wait to get started, it's just what I'm looking forward to, a new challenge."

That fresh challenge was exactly what Kewell needed. Years of injuries ensured Harry had his fair share of doubters on arrival Istanbul but his desire to play and dedication to returning to the peak of his powers has never diminished.

His Gala career started at breakneck speed, scoring seven goals in his first 13 matches. A hernia operation before Christmas halted his progress slightly, but Harry returned to the fray in the New Year, but with more varying degrees of success.

Harry's new coach had him playing all over the pitch - even in central defence for a spell - and yet the new Harry went about the shift in the manner you would expect and did a fine job too.

The goalscoring highlight of his Turkish adventure came against French side Bordeaux in the UEFA Cup. Collecting the ball a full 30 metres out, Harry took one touch and unleashed an unstoppable thunderbolt into the top corner.

Kewell scored 12 goals in all competitions in a disappointing season for his club, which saw the Turkish Super Lig holder finish a feeble fifth.

When Cim Bom had Harry on the field and playing in his preferred role, they looked a far more threatening side.

That kind of form has made him a huge favourite with the passionate Gala fans. They know him as the "Wizard of Oz" or "Harry Potter", and would expect to see their new found hero back next year.

"Turkey is very good for him," said Verbeek in March. "Harry is really fit, fitter than ever. It's the best Harry Kewell I have seen since I came here, physically and mentally."
The fledgling wide-man has been a more regular Socceroo performer over the past 12 months too. Eight games and four goals for the Socceroos is an encouraging return for the reborn Harry.

2
Tim Cahill
Age 29
Position Midfielder
Club Everton (England)

To fully appreciate Tim Cahill it is worth considering Australian football without him. Imagine if he didn't come off the bench against Japan in the 2006 World Cup and score Australia's first World Cup goal to win their first ever finals match. The Asian Cup was deemed a failure, but Cahill still produced our first goal (and win) in that tournament too.

And horror of all horrors, imagine the Socceroos taking on the world's elite in South Africa without its best outfield player...

Taking a moment to consider Cahill outside of the Australian fraternity, perhaps playing for his father's native Samoa, is not a happy place.

No Aussie resides in the EPL's "Big Four" or any of the lead clubs in Italy or Spain. It's a disappointing statistic, but you always feel Cahill, nominee of the prestigious Ballon D'Or in 2006, is the most likely to reach those heights. Cahill has proven over the last 12 months for club and country, that he is the Aussie candidate for "world class" status.

This season Cahill was Everton's driving force in the middle of the park, ending up top scorer as the Toffees reached fifth position and the FA Cup final. He chalked up his 100th goal in senior English football, and became the first Everton player since 1931 to score in three separate Merseyside derbies at Anfield.

He added to his Socceroos tally too, with the opener against Qatar in Brisbane. After the game former Socceroos coach Rale Rasic described Cahill as the best Australian footballer he had seen in his lifetime. Rasic wasn't the only one lining up to praise Cahill this year either.

"If I am a defender, and I have to play against Timmy Cahill, I'm sure I'll have a difficult time," said Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek.

"I think he's shown a real spirit for the team which is very important to any club," said Everton coach David Moyes.

"He is the prince of footballers," said Everton chairman Bill Kenwright. "He is a fantastic player," added Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger. "Tactically very good and very intelligent too."
Taking Tim for granted is not an option - he is a once in a generation talent who makes any side he's playing in better by his sheer prescence.

An Australia without Tim Cahill? It's a thought that doesn't bear thinking about...

1
Mark Schwarzer
Age 36
Position Goalkeeper
Club Fulham (England)

Australia's undisputed number one assumes that position in our inaugural list after arguably his finest campaign for both club and country.

The call to put Schwarzer at the top of the podium was close, but in the end there is no more deserving winner based on the last 12 months.

At club level, Mark made an unexpected move by ending his 11 year stay with Middlesbrough to join fellow mid-table inhabitants - and previously relegation flirters - Fulham. Considering he turned down moves to Juventus and Bayern Munich to join the Londoners, many might have questioned the move at the player's career twilight.
But his impact in London - and the hole he left on Teesside - perfectly illustrated the Socceroo No.1's talents.

Having finishing just above the drop zone the season before, Fulham were tipped for relegation again, while Boro were looking to kick on from a mid-table finish under Gareth Southgate. The two club's reversal of fortunes and Schwarzer swapping clubs was more than just a coincidence.

In the capital Mark played all 38 league games, keeping an impressive 15 clean sheets as Fulham beat out the likes of Tottenham and newly super-rich Manchester City into a Europa League qualifying spot.

In contrast, Middlesbrough shipped 57 goals as they slipped out of the English top flight for the first time in 11 years (conveniently the same length of time Schwarz found himself between their sticks).

It might seem slightly churlish to place so much credit to one player, but such is the impact of the man. Further proof behind his eminence was found on the international front this year too.

As the Socceroos progressed to their second consecutive World Cup finals appearance, it was their defence which provided the platform for success. Only four goals conceded all campaign, including seven clean sheets in a row, enabled the Socceroos to land vital points during their tricky trips across Asia.

When travelling to Japan, some Socceroos arrived just 36 hours before kick-off. Schwarzer was at his heroic best to deny the Blue Samurai time and time again in the goalless deadlock, including palming over Endo's strike from the edge of the box near the death.
The "lucky" win in Bahrain and the business-like victory over Uzbekistan, were all based on nicking a goal and keeping a clean sheet for two 1-0 wins and six vital points. Schwarz was brilliant in both encounters.

At the end of this month, Schwarzer will have been a Socceroo for 16 years. Now Australia's longest ever serving player, he is still the most valuable asset the team has, regardless of age.

Others agree. Last month he was presented with the highest individual honour for a male footballer in this country at the Australian Football Awards in Sydney. Mark also won
the Football Media Association's International Player of the Year.

It is also fitting to see a goalkeeper top our list. The top 50 boasts five stoppers, meaning 10 per cent of our finest talents are vying for one position. They've had an immoveable obstacle in Schwarz in recent years, a fact that will remain until he decides to hang his gloves up.

Let's just hope we don't have as big a problem as Middlesbrough replacing him.