1966-Ainslie First Grade Team

There were six teams in the Canberra League in 1966, Acton, Ainslie, ANU, Eastlake, Manuka and Queanbeyan-Turner.

Ainslie finished the home and away games in second position with 10 wins and 5 losses behind Eastlake with 13 wins.

Ainslie defeated Eastlake in the Second Semi-Final played at Ainslie Oval to go through to the Grand Final.

• Final score: Ainslie 15.14-104 def Eastlake 12.13-85
• Goal kickers for Ainslie: Neeson 5, Moore 2, Cooper 2, Ryan 2, Searle 2, Drake 1, Rendell 1
• Best: Neeson, Searle, Read, Moore, Edwards, Irvine, Laffan, Drake

Eastlake defeated Manuka in the Preliminary Final to set up a rematch with Ainslie. Ainslie couldn’t stop Eastlake from winning their fifth straight Premiership which was a record at the time.

• Final score: Ainslie 8.17-65 def by Eastlake 13.16-94
• Goal kickers for Ainslie: W Drake 2, A Black 2, P Searle 1, N Neeson 1, R Edwards 1, R Moore 1
• Best: W Drake, N Neeson, P Martin, W Blomfield, R Edwards, B Read, R Rendell, P Searle

The Grand Final team was:

• Backs: A Black, R Moore, R Cooper
• Half Backs: Peter Searle, Norm Neeson, Bernie Ryan
• Centres: Ralph Rendell, W Blomfield, Brian Read
• Half Forwards: P Martin, Alan Bloomfield, G Gardiner
• Forwards: Kevin Hassett, Laurie Laffan, J Stankevicious
• Rucks: A Irvine, R Edwards, William Drake

Ainslie won the L J Hooker Shield for the Best Performed Club.

Bill Drake the Ainslie Captain/Coach won the Mulrooney Medal with 19 votes from Eastlake’s Alex Jesaulenko on 14.

Ainslie Second Grade team finished the home and away games in top position.

Ainslie were beaten by Manuka in the Second Semi-Final.

• Final score: Ainslie 5.5-35 def by Eastlake 13.10-88

The Third Grade team was coached by Tom Moore and Captained by Les Durkin.

Won the Premiership.

In the Intermediate Grand Final Ainslie drew with Eastlake to force a replay.

• Final score: Ainslie 4.6-30 drew with Eastlake 4.6-30.

Ainslie were able to win the replay and the Premiership.

Graham Read the Intermediate Captain won the League’s Best & Fairest for this grade, the George Mahoney Memorial Trophy.

• Best & Fairest: Bill Drake
• Runner Up B&F: G Gardiner
• Most Consistent: P Martin
• Most Improved: Brian Read
• Best Clubman: B Jaffray

• Best & Fairest: K Hackett
• Runner Up B&F: R Gowing
• Most Consistent: W Brown
• Most Improved: M Noonan

• Best & Fairest: Owen Layzell
• Runner Up B&F: K Price
• Most Consistent: A Calear
• Most Improved: R Denley

• Best & Fairest: B Ryan
• Runner Up B&F: R O’Rourke
• Most Consistent: V Evans
• Most Improved: R Kruger

• Best & Fairest: A White
• Runner Up B&F: G Read
• Most Consistent: P Tormay
• Most Improved: L Hogan

• President: Harry Gaylard
• Senior Vice President: J Rowe
• Vice Presidents: C Burmester, P Clynes, M Denley, A Hawke, J Humphreys-Reid, H E Kruger, H McCulloch, B Martin, R Read, A Rendell, J Rowe, M Taafe
• Secretary: Alan Ray
• Treasurer: Barry Browning
• Ass. Treasurer: Keith Heales
• Committee: F Cornell, T Cross, P Gilbert, R Hall, K Hassett, A Hawke, B Jaffray, L James, N Neeson, J Nelson