1978-Ainslie First Grade Team

There were 7 teams in the 1978 ACTAFL Competition, Ainslie, ANU, Belconnen, Eastlake, Manuka, Queanbeyan and West Canberra.

Ainslie signed former St Kilda player Kevin Neale as the new playing coach on a two year contract. Neale played 256 games for St Kilda and kicked over 300 goals.

Ainslie finished on top of the table after the home and away games with 14 wins and 4 losses ahead of Eastlake on percentage.

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

• Final score: Ainslie 11.15-81 def Eastlake 10.11-71
• Goal kickers for Ainslie: J Brock 4, K Neale 2, R Davey 2, M Smith 1, W Batchelor 1, D Bellchambers 1
• Best: B Holford, J Brock, V O’Donnell, N Bristow, D Bellchambers, B Hannam

After leading in the Grand Final by 27 points at half time Ainslie were overrun by Eastlake in the second half to lose by 24 points before a record crowd of 9,500 at Manuka Oval.

• Final score: Ainslie 16.17-113 def by Eastlake 19.23-137
• Goal kickers for Ainslie: J Brock 3, R Davey 3, D Bellchambers 3, M Smith 3, K Neale 1, W Batchelor, B Johnston 1, P Neeson 1
• Best: M Smith, D Bellchambers, N Bristow, B Shanley, A Smith

Ron Davey was second in the First Grade leading goal-kicker with 69 goals.

Ainslie Second Grade finished on top of the table after the home and away games with 16 wins and 2 losses. However they were defeated by Belconnen in the Second Semi-Final by 6 points.

• Final score: Ainslie 15.8-98 def by Belconnen 14.20-104
• Goal kickers for Ainslie: M Moullakis 3, G Read 3, I MacDonald 2, I Downes 1, P O’Loughlin 1, M Thorneycroft 1, K White 1, R Sherd 1, G Rebecca 1, R Tutt 1
• Best: K Lovett, M Thorneycroft, G Read, M Moullakis, P O’Loughlin

Ainslie played Sutherland in the Preliminary Final and had a good win by 71 points to advance through to the Grand Final.

• Final score: Ainslie 15.16-106 def Sutherland 5.5-35
• Goal kickers for Ainslie: B McGuiness 2, I MacDonald 2, H Muir 2, P O’Loughlin 2, M Moullakis 2, K White 1, L Laffan 1, P Palmer 1, G Read 1, J Wilkinson 1
• Best: K Lovett, B McGuiness, G Read, P O’Loughlin, M Thorneycroft

Ainslie were again defeated by Belconnen in the Grand Final by 23 points.

• Final score: Ainslie 11.12-78 def by Belconnen 16.5-101
• Goal kickers for Ainslie: H Muir 4, M Moullakis 2, G Read 1, J Wilkinson 1, B McGuiness 1, P Johnson 1, S Ellis 1
• Best: M Thorneycroft, H Muir, K Lovett, G Gardiner, P Johnson

Ainslie’s Graham Read was third in the League’s Second Grade Best & Fairest.

Ainslie U19s played Eastlake in the Second Semi-Final and won by 70 points to move through to the Grand Final.

• Final score: Ainslie 14.15-99 def Eastlake 4.5-29
• Goal kickers for Ainslie: R O’Brien 7, R Hincksman 3, R Anderson 2, B James 1, G Pight 1
• Best: B Muir, A Gravina, R Harris, G Tannerhill, G Lows

Ainslie played Eastlake in the Grand Final and won the Premiership by 14 points.

• Final score: Ainslie 18.6-114 def Eastlake 15.10-100
• Goal kickers for Ainslie: R O’Brien 5, R Anderson 4, A Gravina 2, R Sharpe 2, G Pight 2, K McCabe 1, G Lawless 1, R Harris 1
• Best: G Lawless, R Sharpe, R Anderson, A Gravina, G Pight, G Tannahill

The Ainslie Monaro team finished in sixth position after the home and away games with 7 wins and 11 losses.

• Best & Fairest: Neil Bristow
• Runner-up B&F: David Bellchambers
• Most Consistent: Anthony Turner
• Most Improved: Vince O’Donnell

• Best & Fairest: Graham Read
• Runner-up B&F: M Thorneycroft
• Most Consistent: G Oates
• Most Improved: Patrick Palmer

• Best & Fairest: Garry Lawless
• Runner-up B&F: R Sharpe
• Most Consistent: Brian James
• Most Improved: G Vickers

• President: Keith Heales
• Senior Vice President: Bruce Glossop, Jack McGrath
• Vice Presidents: M Smith, T Stewart, Anthony White
• Secretary: Don Andrews
• Ass. Secretary: G Carey, G Ryan
• Treasurer: Alan Ray
• Committee: Laurie Laffan, J Outhwaite, Brian Palmer, Peter Poke, Larry Rawson, K Redmond, B Ryan, G Ryan, D Scullin, C Smith, Les Smith, M Smith, J Brown
• Patrons: Ralph Lewis, Harry Gaylard