(Transcript from World News Australia Radio)
This season boasts 32 new players who've signed from foreign clubs, amongst them returning Socceroos, World Cup hopefuls and foreign veterans.
Clubs looking abroad for talent in this year's off-season have avoided the star power of previous campaigns.
No new Del Pieros, Heskeys or Onos.
But that's not to say there aren't some juicy signings who'll provide fans with loads of top quality football to watch.
A host of players will be vying for a spot in the Socceroos' squad jetting off to Brazil in 2014.
Among them is 25-year-old Matthew Spiranovic, who's joined the Western Sydney Wanderers from Qatari club Al-Arabi.
The young centre back boasts time with German club Nuremberg and Japanese outfit Urawa Reds, and has 16 Socceroos caps under his belt.
Spiranovic says he's returned to Australia to boost his World Cup chances.
"Nine months out from a World Cup I know how tough the A-League is and there's no question about it, there's quality players in this league and obviously in the ACL as well, so I know if I'm good enough to perform here then I'll be ready come the World Cup," Spiranovic said.
The Wanderers have also picked up former Sydney FC striker Brendon Santalab, who returns to Australia after a stint in China with Chengdu Blades and Chongqing Lifan.
Just north in Newcastle the Jets have taken on Dutch defender Kew Jaliens from Wisla Krakow in Poland.
The veteran 35-year-old has made 10 appearance for the Dutch national side and spent most of his career with clubs Willem II and AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands.
Adelaide United has also been active on the international transfer market, picking up Socceroos aspirant in Michael Zullo. The 25-year-old left-back has been in the Netherlands with FC Utrecht since moving in 2010 from Brisbane Roar.
Zullo has 10 Socceroos caps and said he made the move to Adelaide for more game time. He said his time abroad had helped him grow.
"When I look back on myself now, I think I was pretty raw and pretty inexperienced when I went over there and in three years I think I've learnt a lot obviously playing for Utrecht and the Socceroos especially as well I've picked up a lot of experience so I think I'm still a pretty similar player to what i was when I left, just a bit more experienced and a bit more mature," Zullo said.
Adelaide also picked up Isaias Sanchez from second league Spanish side Ponferradina and Sergio Cirio from Hospitalet in Spain's lower leagues.
Perhaps one of those returning Socceroos whose seat on the plane to Brazil is all but assured is Matt McKay, who returns to his old club Brisbane Roar after a mixed few years on the road.
McKay, who's quietly notched 41 caps for the Socceroos, has been in Scotland with Rangers, in South Korea with Busan l'Park and most recently in China with Changchun Yatai.
The last time McKay played at Brisbane it was under former coach Ange Postecoglou, who's now with Melbourne Victory.
He said life under new coach Mike Mulvey was looking positive.
"His philosophy is very much about playing the right and passing game and all about mobility so it suits my game and he's good for the boys and he's got them motivated this pre-season and all is looking well for the season so he's pulled together a great squad and the additions he's made and the players that have remained, it's looking quite strong," McKay said.
Brisbane have also picked up Dimi Petratos, the former Sydney FC young gun who's most recently been in Malaysia with Kelantan FA.
Across the ditch, Wellington Phoenix has recruited Costa Rican Carlos Hernandez, who's no stranger to the A-League having played from 2007 to 2012 with Melbourne Victory.
He was most recently playing with Prayag United in India.
Phoenix also picked up Kenny Cunningham from Bolivian club The Strongest.
Under coach Frank Farina, Sydney FC has also looked abroad to fill its roster and welcomes the return of Nick Carle, who was on loan in the United Arab Emirates with Bani Yas.
The midfielder says he's looking forward to linking with a strong midfield and front line including Alessandro Del Piero, Brett Emerton and Richie Garcia.
Carle said the Sydney squad had the right mixture of experience and youth to make a tilt for this year's title, but said he was unsure where he will be deployed on the park.
"If it's in a six role, where I have to sit a bit deeper and concentrate on defensive duties a bit more it'll be there. If it's a bit more forward, I'm comfortable there as well. I've mentioned before that I'm getting to age where I can see it's my last three or four years of my career and I really want to win something back home so it doesn't matter where I'm playing as long as it's helping the team out."
Sydney have also picked up 21-year-old Australian Marc Warren from Scottish lower leagues team Airdrie United and Serbian left-back Nikola Petkovic from Red Star Belgrade.
On the Central Coast, the Mariners have picked up Dutchman Marcel Seip from VVV Venlo and Matt Simon from Chunnam Dragons in South Korea.
Moving south, and without a doubt it's Melbourne Heart which has been busiest in the transfer market this off-season, picking up 10 new signings.
They include Orlando Engelaar from PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands, his injury replacement Andrea Migliorini from Slovene side FC Koper, Rob Wielaert from Roda JC, Aziz Behich from Bursaspor in Turkey, Patrick Kisnorbo from Leeds United and Socceroos veteran Harry Kewell who was a free agent.
Heart have rounded out their transfer activity by signing the diminutive captain of the Maltese national team, Michael Mifsud.
The 32-year-old known as the "Mosquito" has played 100 games for his country and netted for teams including Kaiserslautern in Germany and Coventry City in England.
Despite only standing at five-foot-five-inches, Mifsud insisted his size won't be an issue in the physical A-League.
"Well yes, I'm a bit small, but to be honest I'm not the smallest in the team. There is someone else who is even shorter than me. There are tall players, there are short players, there are tall players who have special abilities, there are short players who have different abilities, so that's the game of football," he said.
Perth Glory have also been active on the foreign transfer market. They've attracted Brazilian forward Sidnei Sciola from Cypriot club Alki Larnaca, and Ryan Edwards and Jamie Maclaren from English clubs Reading and Blackburn, respectively.
Melbourne Victory have picked up New Zealander Kosta Barbarouses from Alania Vladikavkaz in Russia and veteran Chilean defender Pablo Contreras from Greek club, Olympiakos.
The A-League season begins on October 11 when Sydney FC takes on Newcastle Jets at the Sydney Football Stadium. Kick off is at 7.30 pm.
A-League matches will be broadcast live from 7 pm on Friday nights on SBS 2 and SBS Radio 3.
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