Melbourne Heart have begun their time in the A-League aggressively, signing key quartet Simon Colosimo, Kristian Sarkies, Dean Heffernan and Matt Thompson. 30-year old Sydney FC defender Colosimo, who has been in brilliant form this season, will return to his home city for the first time since 2001.

The Australian international has played in the UK (Manchester City), Europe (Antwerp and Sivasspor), Malaysia (Pahang) and Australia (Perth Glory, Sydney FC) since he was at Carlton SC and South Melbourne in the National Soccer League days.

Another returning Victorian is 23-year old Adelaide United midfielder Kristian Sarkies. The former Melbourne Victory championship winner joined the Reds in 2007 after winning the 2006/07 title and now will make his way back home to join the Heart.

Joining Colosimo and Sarkies will be Central Coast Mariners' hard-nosed left-back Dean Heffernan who has been at the club since the A-League's inception in 2005. The 29-year old is a product of Sydney and has been in solid form for the Mariners of late.

Newcastle Jets captain Matt Thompson has also joined the incoming club although it is unsure, like the others, just how long he has signed for.

The 27-year old has decided to leave the Jets after it was made public they wanted him to take a pay cut but he was unable to do so and will now be in a Melbourne shirt from next season.

The Heart syndicate have certainly made their intentions clear with these initial signings and it will be interesting to see who else they can lure to Australia's sporting capital.