Three rounds have passed in the Hyundai A-League and already several individuals have greatly enhanced their reputations.
Homegrown talent has been at the forefront of team success with Australians responsible for nine spots in our most recent Team of the Week.
To celebrate their impact, we’ve shone a light on just five locals who have made an immediate mark this season.
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Rhyan Grant (Sydney FC)
You could be forgiven for forgetting Rhyan Grant failed to play a minute last season.
The tireless right-back has been exceptional on his return from an anterior cruciate ligament injury, slotting straight into Sydney FC’s starting XI and looking exactly like his old self, save for the haircut.
Grant, 27, dismissed any lingering doubts over his durability with an especially impressive performance in Friday night’s big win over Melbourne City.
It was his third match in quick succession and a terrific one individually as the one-club man provided the assist for Paulo Retre’s opener and dominated the right flank.
Craig Goodwin (Adelaide United)
Quite simply the form man of the competition right now.
Craig Goodwin left the Hyundai A-League as a fine player in 2016 and appears all the better for the 47 games worth of experience he accrued in the Eredivisie.
An outstanding haul of eight goals in seven competitive appearances since rejoining Adelaide United has rightly earned the winger acclaim from fans and the media.
Three of those goals have come in the Hyundai A-League – as have two assists – with the variety of ways in which they’ve been scored perhaps most impressive of all.
Craig Goodwin just can't stop scoring!#CCMvADL #ALeague
? @FOXFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/N1jkLOHH31— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) November 4, 2018
Adam Taggart (Brisbane Roar)
Adam Taggart will admit he could have more goals to his credit by now, but the striker has still provided some of the more promising moments in Brisbane Roar’s stuttering start.
The 25-year-old, who crossed over from Perth Glory in the off-season, doubled his season tally with a cool penalty under pressure against his former club on Saturday.
Even when he’s not completely on song, as was the case in the Round 1 draw with Central Coast Mariners, Taggart still knows how to find the net.
Some of his movement has been superb, suggesting two goals in three games is just the beginning of a prolific spell.
Chris Ikonomidis (Perth Glory)
Perth Glory’s capture of Chris Ikonomidis could well prove the signing of the season.
Impressive on loan at Western Sydney Wanderers last term, the 23-year-old attacker is now demonstrating the full value of time spent honing his game in Italy and Denmark.
He has quickly forged a dynamic partnership with Jason Davidson on Glory’s left and was integral to the wins over Melbourne Victory and Brisbane.
Best of all, you sense Ikonomidis still has another couple of levels to unlock.
Perth Glory needed a hero.
Step forward, Chris Ikonomidis.
? @FOXFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/72LODh3008
— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) October 28, 2018
Brandon O’Neill (Sydney FC)
Steve Corica must be thankful to have inherited a tried, tested and consistently effective midfield partnership from predecessor Graham Arnold.
Josh Brillante and Brandon O’Neill are in step at every turn, with the latter particularly impressive across the opening three rounds.
At the heart of O’Neill’s stellar start was a commanding Sydney Derby display in which he led the Sky Blues for touches, interceptions and passes in the opposition half, making an incredible 18 more than any other player on the pitch.
At 24, the disciplined screener seems to be entering his peak.
