1 / 10

10: Thomas Broich (Brisbane Roar) A few different players around him but the German has continued his form in the first month of this A-League season. That's the beauty of Roar - there's a system and the players simply fit the system. Berisha, Nichols and Co. are getting plenty of plaudits but Broich remains highly influential in Roar's outrageously attractive gameplan if his first four games are any gauge.

2 / 10

9: Shane Smeltz (Perth Glory) Was there ever any doubt about the Kiwi sensation? Glory’s 30-year-old off-season acquisition continues to do what he’s done across the A-League at clubs like Phoenix and Gold Coast – score on a regular basis. The charismatic All-White has already hit 50 goals in the A-League and will undoubtedly be key to Glory’s season fortunes.

3 / 10

8: Dario Vidosic (Adelaide United) Another to have slipped under the PR radar – at least on the east coast – following the arrival of Emerton and Kewell, Vidosic’s form has been outstanding at the Reds. Quick, athletic and with a great eye for goal – his strike against Roar last week was a perfect example - he surely is close to another Socceroo selection.

4 / 10

7: Mate Dugandzic (Melbourne Heart) One bright spot at red and white central has been Dugandzic’s form. Opening day goals in Newcastle and a stunning performance in the Melbourne derby have confirmed his importance to the side. The 22-year-old Olyroo very much looks appears like a man with something to prove following his departure after 37 games for city rivals Melbourne Victory in the off-season.

5 / 10

6: Ante Covic (Melbourne Victory) While all the focus was on Harry, Covic’s timely arrival for injured keeper Tando Velaphi has proved a master-stroke at Victory. Covic’s form has been the difference between an underwhelming start and a woeful one. And he’s still good enough for the Socceroos. Already an A-League winner with the Jets and with a World Cup appearance to his name (he was third keeper for the Roos at the 2006 edition), the veteran is proving to be a fantastic last line of defence...although Roar this week will be his – and his team’s – biggest test so far.

6 / 10

5: Nick Carle (Sydney FC) FourFourTwo Australia magazine tipped Carle to have a cracking season and he’s not let us down. Goals have never been his forte – his shtick has always been as a ball-playing creator with vision to open up the play with a killer pass – but now as a second striker, he’s adding to his game with goals – and timely ones, too. The winner against the Reds and equaliser against Heart prime examples of Carle’s outstanding first month.

7 / 10

4: Terry Antonis (Sydney FC) Long touted as the “next big thing”, the Young Socceroo is now a regular in the Sky Blue midfield alongside his heroes Brett Emerton and Nicky Carle. But he’s not in there to gain experience; far from it. His vision, passing and work-rate have given Vitezslav Lavicka a new, exciting edge to his experienced midfield.

8 / 10

3: James Brown (Gold Coast United) An injury plagued campaign last season meant the indigenous striker snuck under the radar this season but with some spectacular goals, he leads his club’s scoring tally and has underlined his emergence as an A-League star. The Olyroos could be the other recipients of the former AIS student’s stunning form this season as Aurelio Vidmar’s U23s battle for a place at London 2012.

9 / 10

2: Mitch Nichols (Brisbane Roar) The 22-year-old Gold Coast lad has been called up to the full Socceroos squad for the November World Cup qualifiers – yet another feather in the cap for the Roar system and just reward for a player who always had that X-factor. This season, he’s taken his game to another level and could even eclipse the great Thomas Broich as the main creative force in Brisbane’s mind-blowingly good attacking third.

10 / 10

1: Besart Berisha (Brisbane Roar) “CVs are just postcards from the past,” said one observer. And if you scanned the 26-year-old Albanian’s journeyman CV (Burnley, Aalborg, Horsens) it wouldn’t have passed muster at most A-League clubs. Unless you’re Ange Postecoglou. Berisha has fitted the Roar system like a glove and hit the target six times in a sensational first month (including the fastest hat-trick in A-League history). If he stays clear of injuries, the Albanian international – who has opted out of playing for his nation this season to concentrate on Roar duties - could yet be the find of the season.