Why are the Wanderers so good?

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Point to prove ... Mark Bridge has been superb for the Wanderers. Source: Dean Lewins / AAP

Mark Bridge scored 17 goals in 80 appearances for Sydney FC.

He's already got eight for Western Sydney Wanderers.

Fans at Allianz Stadium must scratch their heads as to where that gliding running style, confidence and cool finishing was during his time at Moore Park.

His move across town has re-ignited his career - seeing a transformation from the scrapheap to being a key player in a team eyeing the A-League finals is the epitome of the Wanderers superb success this campaign.

Bridge's superb strike is one of the three contenders for this week's Goal of the Week, up against Nick Kalmar's delightful free-kick for Melbourne Heart, and Alessandro Del Piero's history-breaking goal for Sydney FC.

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"Tony Popovic has been sensational," he told foxsports.com.au.

"He's brought in players who have a point to prove and players he knows have quality.

"He's put full faith in the senior boys, mixing it with some of the younger boys – Poppa just seems to have everybody happy, his management must be fantastic.

"I think (players having a point to prove) has had a lot to do with their success. It will be interesting to see how they go again next year after the novelty of having a point to prove wears off. They're all quality players."

All the little tweaks made by Popovic are, so far, working wonders.

"For us, he's a winger, he's not a midfielder and if he was playing deep he wouldn't have the amount of chances he does, " Popovic said after the game.

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"It's the same with Youssouf (Hersi). They've got chances every game and good chances, not half chances.

"That's a positive for us and we're becoming more clinical in the final third."

While Michael Bridges lauds the quality of the likes of Aaron Mooy and Shinji Ono as reasons for the Wanderers' success, he picked out another former Sydney FC and Newcastle Jets player to back up the example made by Bridge.

"Nikolai Topor-Stanley, for example, I always rated him at the Jets. He's gone to the Wanderers and lost 7kgs, changed his game, changed his lifestyle.

"These players have got points to prove and it's a credit to them, they've been sensational."

So, can they actually go all the way?

After being at close quarters to witness their fifth win on the trot, Bridges thinks they can, particularly with the Mariners about to encounter Asian Champions League distractions.

"Everybody was laughing at the beginning of the year, saying they were going to get the spoon. They were getting players from here, there and everywhere.