The 2016-17 season provided a mixed bag for Australians plying their trade in Europe, with many left facing difficult decisions regarding their future ahead of the 2018 World Cup.
With silverware safely locked away in cabinets, relegation battles fought and games against Saudi Arabia and Brazil in the bag, ESPN FC reflects on the season that was and grades the players on their efforts:
Player: Aaron Mooy
Club: Huddersfield, England (loan)
Grade: A+
Wrap: Promotion to the Premier League put the exclamation mark on a fairytale campaign for Huddersfield and Mooy. A move to England's top flight is now in the pipeline, with the Terriers set to make the 26-year-old the most expensive Australian signing in history with a £10 million permanent move from Manchester City.
Player: Tom Rogic
Club: Celtic, Scotland
Grade: A
Wrap: A fine season was capped off by a stunning winner in the Scottish Cup final last month. If this run of form continues at the Confederations Cup, a move to the Premier League next term could be too good for Rogic to turn down.
Player: Jackson Irvine
Club: Burton Albion, England
Grade: A-
Wrap: Irvine played a leading role in helping Burton Albion avoid relegation, scoring 10 goals in his 41 appearances. Five Championship clubs, including Aston Villa, Fulham and Wolves are now reportedly chasing the tireless midfielder, which would be a welcome step up for the 24-year-old.
Player: Tomi Juric
Club: FC Luzern, Switzerland
Grade: B+
Wrap: Though not yet the finished product as a replacement for Socceroos talisman Tim Cahill, Juric will be buoyed by his first 30-game season for FC Luzern. A spot in the Europa League should be his next ambition.
Player: Aziz Behich
Club: Bursaspor, Turkey
Grade: B+
Wrap: Behich's consistent performances for Bursaspor -- where he missed just two league games all season -- have been rewarded with a recall to the national team. A newly signed three-year contract extension should see the left-back remain in Europe long-term, which can only help his 2018 World Cup claims.
Player: Mile Jedinak
Club: Aston Villa, England
Grade: B+
Wrap: The Socceroos skipper's decision to leave Crystal Palace for Aston Villa at the start of the season proved a wise move. Jedinak's strong playing style has made him a fan favourite at Villa Park after making 32 appearances.
Player: Massimo Luongo
Club: Queens Park Rangers, England
Grade: B+
Wrap: Luongo signed a contract extension in May, signalling his intention to remain at Loftus Road for the foreseeable future. One of the few young Australians to refuse the riches of China for regular football in Europe, the 24-year-old appears destined for bigger things over the next few years.
Player: Mat Ryan
Club: Genk, Belgium (loan)
Grade: B
Wrap: Injuries saw Ryan fall from the No. 1 spot at Valencia before a return to form came in the second half of the season courtesy of a loan spell with Genk. Those recent performances now have him poised to be snapped up by Premier League side Brighton Hove Albion for next season, where his distribution from the back is sure to impress.
Player: Mitchell Langerak
Club: Stuttgart, Germany
Grade: B
Wrap: The 28-year-old played a key role in Stuttgart winning promotion to the Bundesliga this term. If he can retain the status as first-choice shot-stopper, Langerak will continue to push Ryan for a Socceroos starting position heading into the 2018 World Cup.
Player: Bailey Wright
Club: Bristol City, England
Grade: B
Wrap: The Championship table says Wright made a backwards move from Preston North End to Bristol midseason. However, having performed strongly in 21 games for the Robins since January, the signs are very positive for the 24-year-old moving forward.
Player: Alex Gersbach
Club: Rosenborg, Norway
Grade: B
Wrap: Gersbach has done well for a successful team in Norway, which is ideal for the 20-year-old's development. Qualification for European competition will keep the left-back in Norway for the season to come.
Player: Ajdin Hrustic
Club: Groningen, Netherlands
Grade: B-
Wrap: The 20-year-old made his senior debut in April, and scored an extraordinary first goal against PEC Zwolle just weeks later. It's early days, but the future looks bright for Hrustic.
Player: James Jeggo
Club: Sturm Graz, Austria
Grade: B-
Wrap: A watershed season for the 25-year-old, who became a regular for Sturm Graz as the campaign progressed. Called up to Australia's Confederations Cup squad in place of the injured Jedinak, 2018 looms as a massive year for the former Adelaide United man.
Player: Mustafa Amini
Club: AGF, Denmark
Grade: B-
Wrap: A man-of-the-match performance in the Danish relegation round, Amini seems to have finally cemented regular senior football in Europe after making the switch from the A-League in 2011. With a four-year deal under his belt, the foundation is set for Amini to finally start realising his huge potential.
Player: Jason Davidson
Club: Groningen, Netherlands (loan)
Grade: B-
Wrap: Davidson regained his rhythm in the Netherlands this season after falling out of favour at Huddersfield. Making a permanent move to Groningen could be in the 25-year-old's best interests, particularly if he can develop alongside compatriot Hrustic.
Player: Mathew Leckie
Club: Ingolstadt, Germany
Grade: C+
Wrap: After a relatively underwhelming year, Leckie has intelligently opted to move away from Ingolstadt in favour of Europa-bound Hertha Berlin. There, he will likely play in a deeper wide role to support the attack, which should suit his game and allow him to flourish once again.
Player: Craig Goodwin
Club: Sparta Rotterdam, Netherlands
Grade: C+
Wrap: Goodwin finished the season as strongly as any Australian in Europe, setting up two goals and scoring another to lead Sparta to safety in the Eredivisie. Overall it has been and up-and-down year for the winger, though, who may need to look elsewhere for a more prominent team role.
Player: Stefan Mauk
Club: NEC Nijmegen, Netherlands
Grade: C
Wrap: NEC's relegation to the Eerste Divisie effectively means Mauk needs to move if he is to have any chance of making the Socceroos' squad in 2018. Championship clubs were reportedly interested in the midfielder in January, and such a move should be pounced upon -- if the interest still remains.
Player: Brad Smith
Club: Bournemouth, England
Grade: C-
Wrap: Smith's move from Liverpool to Bournemouth in search of more minutes has not yet paid dividends, as the left-back made just five appearances this season. Missing out on the Confederations Cup due to injury caps a difficult year, with hopefully better to come -- otherwise he may struggle to return to the Socceroos' setup.
Player: Trent Sainsbury
Club: Inter Milan, Italy (loan)
Grade: N/A
Wrap: Sainsbury has been recalled by his Chinese club Jiangsu Sainty after spending the past six months in Serie A. Though he only played one game for Inter, the experience has hopefully given Sainsbury a newborn desire to play in Europe long-term.