Series 3 Mustangs F.C. season

The **Series 3 season** was the Mustangs' 3rd season of competitive football and 1st season in the A League of girls football. In addition to the A League, the club competed in the A League playoffs, and a friendly match, it was their third consecutive season competing in a playoff period at the end of the season. The season covers the period from Hurly-Burly to In the Struggle, There's Joy. This was there first season after gaining promotion from the South Metropolitan Football League. During this season, Mustangs did not win any trophies.

## Season summary and records

In the third season, Mustangs FC regained their attacking prowess after manager Danny Zelenović was promoted from head coach due to Terry Pezzamonte stepping down from the role by request of her daughter Michaela. They also held their defensive spirit, with a 40% clean sheet ratio throughtout the season, which was shared between goalkeepers Liv and Georgie. Georgie kept an 100% clean sheet record whilst in goal for the Mustangs whilst Liv's was 28%.

The Mustangs went on to break their own record for a the highest placement of a Mustangs team ever (female), with fourth in the top flight being progression from top in the second tier. However, they also had a 6-1 defeat to the Predators, the joint worst result in Mustangs history.

In Spikey Words, the Mustangs won their sixth game of the season, which clinched them a playoff spot, when they defeated an unknown team 3-2 after a season forfeit from the Pythons, due to a lack of fit players.

## Season recap and key events

Expectations were mixed for the Mustangs' season after having to deal with a change of coach, style and league. However, they had just merged with another team in the district, their former rivals, the Wildcats. New manager Terry Pezzamonte made some big changes including dropping former undisputed number 1, Liv in favour of the Wildcats goalkeeper Georgie. Despite the team winning their first match, chaos ensued in the changing rooms following the match, with a revolt starting against then manager Terry Pezzamonte's implied nepotism in picking her daughter to be captain, a role she also had at the Wildcats

With the majority of the team threatening to quit if Bella was not reinstated as captain, including Michaela's best friend Georgie. Terry agreed to change captain, however instead of it falling to Bella, it went to Ruby. She accepted the role after Bella stated she had no problems with it. However, the Mustangs' results dropped off over time, to a point where they were sitting at the bottom of the table.

After Danny reclaims his role as head coach, Zee displays arrogance in her play style in terms of her not passing to other teammates. With her practically stealing the ball of Lara and Bella during the match. When Michaela asked Danny why he wouldn't sub Zee off, he said he "wanted Ruby [the captain] to deal with it". However, Zee did score both opportunities and was the only goal scorer as they beat the Megalodons 2-1. Certain members of the team, most noticeably Michaela, showed no condemnation or showed support for Zee on the issue. When Michaela spoke to Zee on the issue and gave her support. Zee revealed that her father gave her money for every goal she scored. In reaction to this, Michaela told other members of the team, in order to cause a divide in the dressing room due to her anger. In the next match, Zee did not change her actions, and missed some of her chances this time, which many members of the team, especially captain Ruby saying that she costed them the match, as they ended up losing 2-1, with Zee being the only scorer. The team had a big argument on the matter at Marnie's birthday party.

After two more wins, including a match where defender Bella Minty scored a perfect hattrick and Liv kept her first clean sheet of the season, after returning in between the sticks due to Georgie moving into the midfield, the Mustangs faced the Predators. They ended up losing the match 6-1, which at the time, ended their hopes of featuring in the playoffs. Just after the match, Liv accidentally called Michaela, and left a message, which insulted Ruby, Bella and Michaela's captaincies aswell as TJ's treatment of Sienna. This almost caused Liv to leave the team due to her being ostracized, however she decided to stay to prove herself.

In Episode 12, In the Struggle, There's Joy, after training, Ruby notifies the team that she will not be returning next season. The Mustangs started the semis without their coach, and by half time, he was still nowhere to be seen. They were informed by Marnie, that Danny had died. The cause of death was never revealed, however many of the Mustangs players thought about forfeiting the match. The result of the match was never revealed, but we do know the Predators beat them and progressed to the final, causing the end to a successful season for the Mustangs

## Pre-season and friendlies

Mustangs FC began their campaign without a preseason, contrary to Series 2 where they played in a cup prior to the season. However, a friendly between the Mustangs Boys and Mustangs Girls teams for Unity Day. The match was played at their shared home ground.

**Unity Day Friendly**

## Competitions

### A-League

Main article: A-League

Mustangs FC entered the competition as a newly promoted club. They were the champions of the SMFL and as a result were promoted to the A-League. The team merged with former rivals the Wildcats.

#### Fixtures and Results

The A-League fixtures for the season were announced on episode by episode, as per usual.

### Playoffs

Main article: A-League Playoffs

Mustangs FC entered the competition in the semi-finals and were given a home tie against the Predators, who had beaten them 6-1 earlier in the season. The draw was discovered by the viewers at the start of episode 12 from Coach Danny. The draw for the final was never revealed, but the Predators were a part of it. The score of the semi-final was never revealed but the Mustangs did lose and it was 0-0 at half time.