Melbourne Victory players celebrate during the A-League semi final match between Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City at Etihad Stadium on May 8, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia.
Ins: Marco Rojas (unattached), James Troisi (Liaoning Whowin), Alan Baro (Ponferradina), Mitch Austin (Central Coast Mariners), Stefan Nigro (promoted), James Donachie (Brisbane Roar), Sebastian Pasquali (promoted)
Outs: Danny Vukovic (Sydney FC), Kosta Barbarouses (Wellington Phoenix), Matthieu Delpierre (retired), Thomas Deng (PSV Eindhoven), Gui Finkler (Wellington Phoenix), Giancarlo Gallifuoco (released), Jesse Makarounas (Adelaide United), Dylan Murnane (released), Connor Pain (Central Coast Mariners), Archie Thompson (released), Joey Katebian (Brisbane Roar)
Last season:
After winning the double in 2014-15, Melbourne couldn't replicate the same form last season and were bundled out of A-League contention following an elimination final loss to the Brisbane Roar.
The Victory finished in 6th position after an up and down season and were unable to overcome the Roar at Suncorp Stadium in week one of the finals.
Carl Valeri missed the majority of the season through illness but has recovered and should feature in their opening match this campaign.
Key player: James Troisi
After playing only one season in Melbourne in 2013/14 that earned James Troisi the club's Golden Boot and Players' Player of the Season awards, the 28-year-old is finally back in Victory colours.
Troisi makes the move from Chinese club Liaoning Whowin, and after the departures of Kosta Babrarouses and Gui Finkler its become a very timely signing by Kevin Muscat.
The Socceroo scored 12 goals in the Hyundai A-League during his only season in Melbourne, but with more international football under his belt Troisi returns and has the potential to even better his previous effort.
He'll join Besart Berisha and Marco Rojas in Melbourne's front third and if he can replicate his 2013/14 season form, he'll be a big player in the Victory's charge for a possible fourth Championship.
Why they'll win:
Once again, this Victory squad has the makings of a title-winning team.
Despite losing Matthew Delpierre from a back four that conceded the second least goals last season, Melbourne have brought in James Donachie and Alan Baro who should both slot into the defence quite seemlessly.
Troisi and Rojas have come back to Melbourne this season and more than make up for the losses of Barbarouses and Finkler to Wellington.
Mitch Austin also makes the move from the Central Coast to Melbourne, as the Victory boasted one of the best incoming lists of the entire competition over the off-season.
Kevin Muscat's recruitment once again shows that Melbourne mean business, and there's no doubt they got the quality to match it with their cross-town rivals this season.
Why they won't:
It's hard to pinpoint a weak spot in this Victory line-up, but as crazy as it sounds given the firepower they've got up front, their goal scoring numbers could be a problem.
Berisha scored 18 goals last season and that's definitely a mark he can achieve again, but he needs support.
Barbarouses scored just six to be Melbourne's second highest scorer and he and Finkler combined for 10, although with the pair on the move their replacements needs to find the net.
Melbourne scored just 40 goals last year, the lowest output of any team in the finals, meaning Troisi, Rojas and Austin must help Berisha out if Melbourne the Victory are to have a deeper run in the post-season.
Starting XI: (All starting XI's are default 4-4-2)
Goalkeeper: Lawrence Thomas
Defenders: Jason Geria, James Donachie, Alan Baro, Daniel Georgievski
Midfielders: Oliver Bozanic, Leigh Broxham, Carl Valeri, Marco Rojas
Attackers: James Troisi, Besart Berisha
Championship odds (courtesy of TopSport)
Predictions: 2nd
Even with some of Melbourne's key players from last season moving on, this team has recruited well enough to challenge for the title this season.
They've got a solid defence, a strong midfield and a potent attack but as impressive as that all is, we believe it still leaves them just behind their rivals, Melbourne City.