Eight More Players to Watch - Part 1 of 2

They're young, talented and full of beans. A recent article on the A-League web site entitled Eight to Watch chose one player from each of the eight founding clubs, highlighting their potential to make a name for themselves in the forthcoming season. Dissatisfied with a couple of the selections, I thought I'd offer a different perspective: eight (mostly) young players who will be relied upon each week right from the start of the season. If these guys fail to turn it on, their respective team's can probably kiss championship aspirations goodbye.

Adelaide United's Travis Dodd has been given the responsibility in right midfield, which is probably the single position with the least depth of talent in the league (with Kitzbichler clearly the best of 'em). Given the absence of Vidmar, who I always saw as more of a provider than an outright goal scorer, Dodd's value to the side has increased. Left fullback Adam Van Dommele is another relatively young player who the club would probably love to give 21 starts if he's fit and ready.

Alex Wilkinson was an obvious choice among the young talent at Central Coast; he's one of many excellent Lawrie McKinna proteges. Adam Kwasnik is another, a striker who should be able to seize a spot in the first team alongside Nick Mrdja sooner rather than later. The Mariners have built for success today, not signing too many young players who will command a spot, but Kwasnik will get to share some time with Wilkinson and if he puts a few in the back of the net then Stewart Petrie may find himself back in midfield.

Vince Lia was a big disappointment at the World Youth Cup. This, plus the fact that he'll be playing behind arguably one of the league's best players in Kitzbichler, made Lia a strange a choice in the article. Victory have got youth everywhere, with Chris Tadrosse, Kristian Sarkies, Adrian Leijer and Steven Pantelidis all expected to play a big part in their season. My pick goes to Mark Byrnes, who at 23 still has his best years to look forward too. If he has a good season, Byrnes will probably be one of the hardest players for the league to keep at home. Surely he's bound for another crack on a bigger stage.

I'm also expecting big things from Zhang Xiaobin and will be very surprised if he isn't one of the signings of the year, given his relative obscurity yet experience in England and within the Chinese national setup. A lot will be expected of ex-Man Utd youth flanker Ben Collet, but Joshua Rose seems to be the left midfielder of choice for the Knights at the moment. (Indeed, Collet may wind up a regular in the centre of the park.) Rose is just one of a handful of young players whom the Knights will have to rely on to provide some good performances, but some of the others (like Farina's nephew Zenon Caravella) may not initially claim a starting spot.