Sebastian Pasquali

When Melbourne Victory fans sing ‘Stand By Me’ before A-League matches, they’re not just rousing emotion, they’re giving career advice. When Pasquali first burst onto the scene (remember that phenomenal performance against Juventus?) he was a 16-year-old attacking midfielder.

After three years with Jong Ajax – admittedly one of the greatest youth academies in the world – the 19-year-old is now playing largely as a centreback. Whether this is the shift he needs to break into Ajax, or any other first team, remains to be seen.

Pasquali clearly has quality to be playing for Ajax’s superstar conveyor belt, which is why 2019 bodes promisingly as the year he breaks through somewhere. But as a centreback? Really?

Perhaps post-match Victory fans should be a little more obvious and just start chanting ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go…’

Christian Theoharous

From one Big V prodigy to another, Theoharous’ departure to Borussia Monchengladbach is the latest in a long series of Aussie youngsters heading to the Bundesliga (Kwame Yeboah recently returned home after four years attempting to break into the same side).

Possessing excellent balance, a decent final pass and an uncanny ability to beat a fullback when the ball seems lost, Theoharous’ performances during Victory’s successful finals tilt last year suggested he’s a Socceroo in the making.

In the meantime, it’s likely the 18-year-old will be an extended work in progress in Germany...

Ajdin Hrustic

At 22, Hrustic is the oldest player on this list, but he’s also a one-cap Socceroo and a regular performer in the Eredivisie for Groningen. You get the feeling 2019 will be the year that makes or breaks Hrustic’s sterling potential.

The attacking midfielder – who came through the increasingly prolific Shalke 04 academy –needs to add direct contributions to his game. One assist all season and two goals in 39 Eredivisie appearances don’t exactly signal star potential.

But when you see Hrustic face up three Dutch defenders on the wing, pause, then charge directly through all of them, you realise if anyone’s really going to break through this year, it’s probably him.