Ainslie kicked just five goals in the low-scoring contest, and paid the price for a poor third quarter in going down to the Thunder 7.11 (53) to 5.6 (36) at TIO Stadium.

Ainslie's elimination in the first week of the finals ends a tumultuous NEAFL season for Canberra clubs as the competition's long-term relevance in the ACT comes under heavy scrutiny.

Having had five Canberra teams in the NEAFL when it began in 2011, Ainslie and Eastlake will be the only teams left next year.

The Tricolours were always going to have their backs against the wall to inflict the Thunder's first home loss of the season.

The visitors were dealt a blow before the game, when NEAFL team of the year representative Aaron Vandenberg was ruled out with injury.

It was the last thing the Tricolours needed against a Thunder team featuring former AFL players Liam Patrick (Gold Coast Suns) and Alwyn Davey (Essendon).

Conquering the conditions as much as the opposition proved to be a tough challenge in the first quarter as both sides struggled to find the scoreboard.

Ainslie kicked a solitary goal, but only trailed the Thunder by seven points at the first change.

It was just as tight in the second stanza as the Tricolours went into the main change behind by one straight kick – 3.2 to 2.2.

The game opened up slightly in the third quarter, but it was one-way traffic as the Thunder kicked three unanswered goals to open up a 26-point advantage.

The Thunder kicked the first major of the last quarter before Ainslie went on a late charge with three straight goals to put a scare in the home crowd.

The Thunder faces the Sydney Swans Reserves in a preliminary final next weekend, while the GWS Giants Reserves will take on Aspley, which beat Redland by 23 points on Saturday in the other elimination final.

NEAFL Elimination Final: NT Thunder 2.1, 3.2, 6.7, 7.11 (53) bt Ainslie 1.0, 2.2, 2.5, 5.6 (36) at TIO Stadium, Darwin, on Saturday night.