1976-Ainslie First Grade Team

The ACTAFL Competition had 8 teams in the 1976 competition, Ainslie, ANU, Belconnen, Eastlake, Manuka, Queanbeyan, RMC and West Canberra.

The top five teams played in the Finals with top side Manuka having the first week off.

Ainslie after losing the last game of the home and away slipped to third place and played Eastlake in the Qualifying Final at Jamieson Oval.

• Final score: Ainslie 12.11-83 def by Eastlake 25.22-172
• Goal kickers for Ainslie: Martin Smith 7, Ryan 2, Bellchambers 1, Cox 1, Batchelor 1
• Best: Martin Smith, Bellchambers, Ryan, Hamilton, Charles Smith

Ainslie defeated Queanbeyan in the First Semi-Final to advance to the Preliminary Final after trailing by 16 points at three quarter time and kicking 8 goals in the last quarter.

• Final score: Ainslie 13.13-91 def Queanbeyan 9.10-64
• Goal; kickers for Ainslie: Martin Smith 4, Howard 3, T Ryan 2, Andrews 1, Johnson 1, Norval, Jeffries
• Best: Jeffries, Johnson, Whyte, Fort, Hamilton

Ainslie came up against Eastlake in the Preliminary Final and were defeated by 45 points to finish the season in third place.

• Final score: Ainslie 11.9-75 def by Eastlake 17.18-120
• Goal kickers for Ainslie: Ryan 3, Jeffries 2, Martin Smith 2, Howard 1, Fort 1, Bellchambers 1
• Best: Jeffries, Cox, Howard, Hamilton, Ford, T Ryan

Martin Smith won the League Goal-kicking award with 84 goals.

Eastlake defeated Manuka to win the 1976 Premiership.

Ainslie won the Club Championship Award.

• Coach: Kevin Hassett
• Captain: Garry Cox, V.Capt.: Charles Smith
• Manager: Gordon Adcock

The Ainslie Second Grade finished the home and away on top of the ladder with 15 wins.

They played Eastlake in the Second Semi-Final and advanced through to the Grand Final with a 35 point win.

• Final score: Ainslie 15.24-114 def Eastlake 11.13-79
• Goal kickers for Ainslie: S Smith 4, Moulakis 3, Forsyth 2, Batchelor 2, McMillan 2, G Read 1, R Sherd 1
• Best: G Read, McMillan, S Smith

After a slow start Ainslie dominated Eastlake in the Second Grade Grand Final to win by 74 points.

• Final score: Ainslie 24.16-160 def Eastlake 13.8-86

Ken Wark kicked 4 goals and the best were Rod McMillan and Keith Johnson

The Ainslie Second Grade won their fourth Premiership in the last five years, winning in 1972, 1973, 1975 and 1976.

• Coach: Brian Read
• Captain: Laurie Laffan, V.Capt.: Graham Read
• Manager: Graham Carey

The Ainslie Under 19 team finished on top after the home and away games with 16 wins.

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

• Final score: Ainslie 7.10-52 def by Manuka 9.7-61
• Goal kickers for Ainslie: Smith 2, Portway 2, Triffett 1, Thorneycroft 1, O’Loughlin 1
• Best: Andrews, M Smith, Ielasi

In the Preliminary Final Ainslie defeated Eastlake to move into the Grand Final against Manuka.

• Final score: Ainslie 13.14-92 def Eastlake 12.7-79
• Goal kickers for Ainslie: Triffett 6, Hannam 3, O’Loughlin 1, James 1, Portway 1, Ielasi 1
• Best: Hannam, Triffett, Reilly, Phillips

Ainslie U19s were defeated in the Grand Final by Manuka.

• Final score: Ainslie 7.8-50 def by Manuka 11.10-76

Paul O’Loughlin kicked 3 goals and Best was Noel Reilly.

Ainslie’s Mark Smith won the League Best & Fairest in the Under 19 Grade.

• Coach: Bob McCorry
• Captain: R Phillips
• Manager: Larry Rawson

Ainslie finished the home and away in third place with 14 wins.

Ainslie played CCAE in the Qualifying Final. CCAE defeated Ainslie by 15 points.

• Final score: Ainslie 9.7-61 def by CCAE 11.10-76

Ainslie played Services in the First Semi-Final and went down by 1 point to finish the season in fourth place.

• Final score: Ainslie 8.16-64 def by Services 9.11-65
• Best: Greg Weir, Kevin Robinson, Leas Garth, Stewart Morgan
• Coach: J Truesdale
• Captain: R O’Rourke
• Managers: Les Smith and Gordon Truesdale

• Best & Fairest: R Hamilton, B Fort (Tie)
• Runner Up B&F: –
• Most Consistent: S Jeffrie
• Most Improved: R Whyte

• Best & Fairest: S Smith
• Runner Up B&F: Graham Read
• Most Consistent: Keith Johnson
• Most Improved: Vince O’Donnell

• Best & Fairest: M Smith
• Runner Up B&F: Tony Ielasi
• Most Consistent: B Durbridge
• Most Improved: M Rutzou

• President: Keith Heales
• Senior Vice President: Bruce Glossop
• Vice Presidents: Jack McGrath, John Bravo, B Read, Barry Kershaw, Alan Ray
• Secretary: Don Andrews
• Ass. Secretary: T Stewart
• Treasuer: J Shanley
• Committee: John Bravo, F Cornell, J Cusack, K Howard, Robert McCorry, N Neeson, K Redmond, Les Smith. B Thorneycroft, Peter Tormey, Peter Poke, B Ryan, D Scullin, Tony White
• Patrons: Ralph Lewis, R W Chew