Greatest NSL Teams - The Soccer Australia Era (1995/96-2003/04)

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 GK Jason Petkovic - Adelaide City (1995/96-1998/99), Perth Glory (1999/00-2003/04) - Following City's successful period under Zoran Matić, Petkovic was one of the league's most dominant keepers and helped the club qualify for the finals series every season despite a lack of team success. Petkovic won two NSL Goalkeeper of the Year awards at City before joining Perth Glory where he played in four grand finals in five seasons, winning two and claiming a joint record third NSL Goalkeeper of the Year award. Petkovic was also one of the few NSL keepers to represent the Socceroos during the era.

CB Jamie Harnwell - Perth Glory (1998/99-2003/04) - A goal scoring central defender and proud Western Australian, Harnwell was one of Perth's most reliable players during their successful period in the competition. Harnwell played in four grand finals in five seasons, scoring in two and winning two.

CB Simon Colosimo - Carlton (1997/98-2000/01), South Melbourne (2000/01), Perth Glory (2002/03), Parramatta Power (2003/04) - One of, if not the most promising Australian player of the era, Colosimo was destined for big things after showing maturity and intelligence at an early age. Colosimo played in four grand finals with four different teams in his six seasons in the league - playing as a central defender and midfielder. Colosimo won the Joe Marston Medal in Perth's winning grand final in 2003.

CB Angelo Costanzo - Adelaide City (1995/96-1999/00), Marconi (2000/01-2003/04) - Despite a lack of trophies or individual honours, Costanzo played finals football in nine of his eleven seasons in the league. After starting his league career as a midfielder, Costanzo became one of the most talented defenders in the competition - combining skill and grit.

RWB Matt Horsley - Wollongong (1995/96-2000/01), Perth Glory (2001/02-2003/04) - Horsley captained Wollongong to back-to-back grand final wins, scoring in their incredible comeback win against Perth in 2000 and winning the Joe Marston Medal in 2001, and won the 2001 Oceania Club Championship before joining Perth. Horsley moved to right back and played in two grand finals for the club but missed the grand final in the final season as he claimed two championship medals with the club.

CM Krešimir Marušić - Sydney United (1996/97, 2001/02), Carlton (1997/98), Northern Spirit (1998/99), Sydney Olympic (1999/00-2000/01), Melbourne Knights (2001/02) - Arguably the best import of the era, Marušić was a brilliant playmaker who played finals football in all of his seasons in the league and played in two grand finals. Marušić won the 1996/97 Johnny Warren Medal with Sydney United in one of the greatest club sides in the history of the league.

CM Troy Halpin - Newcastle Breakers (1995/96-1997/98), Perth Glory (1997/98-1999/00), Sydney Olympic (2000/01-2003/04) - One of the most technically gifted players of the era, Halpin played in three grand finals and a cup final for three different clubs. Halpin played in Newcastle Breaker's losing cup final in 1996 before playing in Perth's first grand final in 2000, creating two of Perth's three first half goals as the side lost the match in a penalty shoot-out. After leaving Perth, Halpin played in two grand finals for Sydney Olympic, winning in 2002.

CM Goran Lozanovski - Adelaide City (1995/96, 2002/03), Collingwood (1996/97), South Melbourne (1997/98-2000/01), Adelaide United (2003/04) - A third playmaker in this midfield, Lozanovski was an influential player at every club he played for. Lozanovski played in Collingwood's NSL Cup Final win over Marconi before playing in three grand finals with South Melbourne, winning two and claiming the Joe Marston Medal in the 1999 grand final.

LWB Scott Chipperfield - Wollongong (1996/97-2000/01) - Arguably Wollongong's greatest player, Chipperfield was one of the league's best players during the era. The left-sided player was a prolific scorer and won the Joe Marston Medal in Wollongong first NSL Grand Final win in 2000. Chipperfield won two Johnny Warren Medals and scored the winning goal in Wollongong's 2001 Oceania Club Championship Final but missed the 2001 NSL Grand Final in which Wollongong defeated South Melbourne.

ST Damian Mori - Adelaide City (1995/96, 1997/98-1999/00), Perth Glory (2000/01-2003/04) - The league's greatest goal scorer, Mori won a record five NSL Golden Boot awards during the era. Mori won the award three times with Adelaide, including a record breaking 31 goals in the 1995/96 season, and won a further two with Perth to go with two championship medals and two Johnny Warren Medals.

ST Bobby Despotovski - Morwell (1995/96), Perth Glory (1996/97-2003/04) - A superstar of the league, Despotovski was a goal and excitement machine for Perth during the era. One of only two players to represent Perth in all their seasons in the NSL, Despotovski played in four grand finals in five seasons for the club, winning two (one as captain).

Coach Mich D'Avray - Perth Glory (2001/02-2003/04) - Following a successful start to his coaching career in South Africa, D'Avray later joined Perth Glory as assistant to German coach Bernd Stange. D'Avray replaced Stange for the 2001/02 season and lost just 10 regular season games over three seasons as he led Perth to three consecutive grand finals, winning two and was named NSL Coach of the Year in his final season.

Bench

GK Michael Petkovic - South Melbourne (1995/96-1998/99, 2000/01-2001/02) - A difficult choice to separate brothers Jason and Michael as they both won two championships and three NSL Goalkeeper of the Year awards during the era. I chose Jason for the fact that he spent more time in the league and played in more grand finals. A testament to Michael's talent however was that he was selected as starting keeper in South Melbourne's Team of the Century.

DEF Alvin Ceccoli - Wollongong (1995/96-2001/02), Parramatta Power (2002/03-2003/04) - A brilliant wing-back during the era, Ceccoli played in three grand finals - winning two with Wollongong and losing one with Parramatta. 

MID Tom Pondeljak - Melbourne Knights (1995/96-1998/99), Sydney United (1999/00-2000/01), Sydney Olympic (2001/02-2002/03), Perth Glory (2003/04) - After playing in a grand final in his debut season in the NSL, in which his side won, Pondeljak found success hard to come by despite being a consistent goal scoring midfielder. Pondeljak later joined Sydney Olympic where he played finals football for the first time in five seasons and went on to play in three consecutive grand finals, winning one each with Olympic and Perth.

MID Con Boutsianis - Collingwood (1996/97), South Melbourne (1997/98, 2000/01-2003/04), Perth Glory (1998/99-1999/00) - Without doubt Australia's greatest free kick taker, Boutsianis was a prolific scorer during the era and played in three grand finals. After scoring the winning goal in Collingwood's 1996/97 NSL Cup Final, Boutsianis returned to former club South Melbourne and scored the winning goal in their 1998 grand final win over Carlton. Boutsianis then spent a season and half at Perth where he scored 25 goals in 49 league games, most of them coming from free kicks, and later returned to South where he played in their losing 2001 grand final to Wollongong.

FWD Fernando Rech - Brisbane Strikers (2000/01-2002/03), Parramatta Power (2003/04) - One of the league's best imports during the era, Rech was a deadly finisher and technically gifted footballer who played as a striker and attacking midfielder. Despite a lack of team success at Brisbane, Rech was the league's best player, winning the 2001/02 Johnny Warren Medal before moving to Parramatta Power where he played in their losing 2004 grand final to Perth.