Mustangs FC opens with a clear-eyed look at the barriers faced by girls and young women in sport. From outdated club structures and limited access to facilities, to societal expectations and a lack of visible role models, the series explores with a light touch the systemic challenges that can discourage female participation in traditionally male-dominated spaces like football.

Set against the backdrop of a newly formed girls’ team, the clip captures the excitement and uncertainty of building something from the ground up. It also reflects a broader cultural shift, airing just a year after the AFL Women’s League began paying its players and implementing policies to support women athletes, including travel allowances, income protection and childcare support.

This sequence from Goals, the first episode of the first season, resonates with ongoing conversations about gender equity in sport, echoed in the achievements of the Matildas and the growing visibility of women’s football in Australia.