Ainslie's U16 Div 1 team won their Preliminary Final against Eastlake on Sunday to progress through to the Grand Final to be played on Saturday 12th September at Manuka Oval.

The game went into extra time as scores were locked at the Final siren at 10.9-69 each. Ainslie were able to kick 2.2 to 1.1 in the extra time to win by 7 points.

Goal Kickers were:  Jake Whatman 3, Dylan Delorenzo 2, Tom Jurkiewicz 2, Nick Readshaw 2, Adam Blewitt 1, Lachie Carter 1, Brent Ford 1.

The U16 Div 1 Grand Final between Ainslie and Belconnen will be played at Manuka Oval on Saturday 12th September at 1.30pm.

Below is an extract from the AFL Canberra website:

"After a one goal difference in the AFL Canberra Labor Club Division 1 Grand Final on Saturday, the close games continued on Sunday at RMC with the AFL Canberra Milk Junior League Preliminary Finals. In the closest game in any competition yet, the U16 Division 1 Preliminary Final finished in a draw sending the match into extra time to see who would play in Saturday’s Grand Final at Manuka Oval.

After a full match Ainslie and Eastlake were tied on 10.9.69 each sending the Preliminary Final into 10 minutes extra time to see who would take on the Belconnen Magpies in the U16 Division 1 Grand Final. Ainslie’s determination and desperation was enough to get them over the line by 7 points in extra time.

After a close first quarter, just two points separated the teams at quarter time with Eastlake’s accurate kicking giving them the lead (2.4.16 to 3.0.18). In the second quarter Ainslie came out firing, kicking five goals to none in the second quarter to hold a 29 point lead at half time.
In what’s often called the premiership quarter Eastlake made their move and kicked four goals to one in the third quarter to trail Ainslie by just 8 points at three quarter time. In a physical final quarter both teams gave it their everything. With less than two minutes to go in the match Eastlake kicked a goal tying up the scores and sending the game into extra time.

With their season on the line both team showed guts and determination but Ainslie had that extra bit of desperation and got over the line by 7 points.

Ainslie 12.11.83 defeated Eastlake 11.10.76."