Marquee stars ... Shinji Ono and Alessandro Del Piero have had plenty of success. Source: Phil Hillyard / News Limited
Although Perth Glory have quashed speculation they are interested in signing Michael Owen, the fact that the former England international is keen on a move to the Hyundai A-League is a further feather in the cap of the competition.
For season eight has proved beyond doubt that - providing the men in question are the right choices - marquee players can be a fabulous asset to the domestic league.
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More on Alessandro del Piero in a moment. But first, Emile Heskey, whose arrival gave Newcastle Jets an immediate spike in membership, and who has delivered plenty on the park too, contributing seven goals already.
Some have mischievously suggested he is the reason for their struggles this season - but the facts don't really back that up. At present, the Jets have 17 points from 15 games and have scored 19 goals. At the corresponding stage last season, (pre-Heskey), those figures were, remarkably, exactly the same.
With so many new faces bedding in at Hunter Stadium, a transitional season was always a possibility. So, even if it's reasonable to say he hasn't significantly improved the Jets, then at the very least, they haven't been weakened. We'll see if his current injury concerns lead to an upturn in the Jets fortunes - or not.
Shinji Ono, meantime, has been a revelation in recent weeks. His form is improving in line with his fitness, and what a pleasure it is to be watching an Asian player have a real impact. It's long overdue.
Heskey and Ono have conducted themselves superbly in Australia, and providing they retain their fitness, there seems to be no reason why they shouldn't prolong their stay.
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But what of Del Piero?
For weeks now, the question has been "will he be at Sydney next season?" Here's a better one - how can he NOT be at Sydney next season?
Del Piero has filled grounds right across the country. He has scored splendid goals, showed his passion for the game, his new club, and living in Australia.
But it's not just about his playing career - it's about Sydney FC building a club, in which respected names are central to their ethos and are valued accordingly. It appears Del Piero would like to stay - so the hold up can only be financial. I understand football is a business, and the numbers must add up, but surely it's a no-brainer to keep the Italian here?
What message does it send out if Sydney discard a star who has already contributed so much after just half a season?
Can anyone in their right mind truly believe he can't be of benefit in either a playing, coaching, or even ambassadorial role? Sydney should look to build a club around him. If they don't, then they have learnt nothing from the all too brief stays of Dwight Yorke and Juninho, both of whom were ushered through the door with unseemly haste - in Juninho's case, after he offered to stay for much lower wages.
The Sky Blues could follow the example of Kashima Antlers, who employed Zico as a player, and then ensured he became part of the fabric of the club by offering him the role of technical advisor. Zico now has his own statue at the stadium - a club legend. But legends can't be created in only 12 months.
At the other end of the age spectrum, there is a similar point to be made regarding the A-League's player transactions.
There's been plenty of talk lately as to whether Reading is the right choice of club for Tomas Rogic. Personally, I have no qualms in Rogic going to the Madejski if he so desires - my view is that football is a short career, and players should to be free to make their own choices.
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But no-one seems to have batted an eyelid at the supposed transfer fee quoted for Rogic - which is in the region of $600,000. That, for a talent regarded by many as the best Australia has produced in years!
By way of comparison, the most talked about young English footballer at the moment is Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha - and the figures being bandied about for him are closer to the $15 million mark!
Even if we accept the premium put on young English talent in the UK, shouldn't Rogic be valued at $1million at the very least? The Mariners can't (and won't) stand in his way - but they deserve a lot more by way of compensation. It may even help Rogic's career, as overseas clubs won't pay top dollar for fringe players.
The A-League cannot run the risk of being seen as a competition ripe with easy (and cheap) pickings - nor as a destination where superstars are dispensed with as soon as their novelty factor fades. It's a bad look on both counts.
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