Ainslie coach Chris Rourke described his team's skills as "inept" and not up to NEAFL standard after a third straight loss dropped the Tri-Colours out of the top six.
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The Tri-Colours have officially entered a mid-season slump with a disappointing 33-point defeat to Queensland side Redland at Alan Ray Oval on Saturday.
Only Redland's inaccuracy in front of goal prevented a bigger margin as they booted 12.19 (91) to Ainslie's 8.10 (58).
Ainslie and Redland were tied for sixth place on the ladder on 16 competition points going into the game, but Rourke admitted his side was not playing anything like a finals contender.
"Our skills were so inept today that we kept letting them back in," Rourke said.
"We shot ourselves in the foot so many times and they were cleaner.
"Our blokes aren't up to it.
"All the things we're practising as training, a 15-metre kick, if you can't hit that, then you shouldn't be playing at this level."
Ainslie stayed within touch of Redland in the first quarter before the visitors went to a 22-point lead at halftime.
Redland dominated the third quarter, but wayward kicking resulting in one goal from 11 scoring shots kept the Tri-Colours within striking distance at the final change.
Ainslie conceded the first two goals of the last quarter as the margin blew out to 43 points.
The hosts repsonded with a couple of majors of their own to add respectability to the scoreboad.
"I thought we competed OK, but the scoring dried up because we didn't get the ball in quick enough," Rourke said.
"We've got a few problems and we're in a bit of a hole.
"I don't know if it's lack of care or lack of confidence, but it's certainly fallen away in the last couple of weeks.
"We win enough ball, but we're just not doing anything with it.
"It's a very disappointing day."
Ainslie will now hope to recover before it takes on cross-town rivals Eastlake in the Canberra derby at Manuka Oval next Saturday night.
"It's a massive game," Rourke said.
"The last couple of weeks have been disappointing in that the game has been over at half-time.
"We think our best is good, but we're just so far from it.
"We're playing like a bottom side at the moment."
Eastlake will look to rebound from its 19.16 (130) to 9.9 (63) drubbing at the hands of the NT Thunder at Darwin's TIO Stadium on Saturday night.
In the AFL Canberra first-grade competition, the Queanbeyan Tigers had a 25-point win against the Gungahlin Jets.
NEAFL
Saturday: Redland 12.19 (91) bt Ainslie 8.10 (58) at Alan Ray Oval; NT Thunder 19.16 (130) bt Eastlake 9.9 (63) at TIO Stadium, Darwin.
AFL CANBERRA FIRST GRADE
Saturday: Queanbeyan Tigers 9.16 (70) bt Gungahlin Jets 6.9 (45).
