No quick fix as the Tuggeranong Hawks embrace rebuild

Something that would lift the winless Tuggeranong Hawks out of the doldrums and into AFL Canberra first grade premiership contention immediately.

But there isn't.

So Ashcroft and the Hawks have decided to tackle adversity head on, and wear the bumps and bruises that come with it as badges of honour when they finally restore Tuggeranong as a finals contender.

The Hawks were dealt another three-figure loss in a 15.19 (109) to 1.5 (11) defeat against the Ainslie Tricolours at Greenway Oval on Sunday, but Ashcroft maintains there are positives to take from it in the midst of a painstaking rebuild.

"At the moment it’s a waiting game, we need to get these quality kids that we’ve got coming through at the moment," Ashcroft said.

"We had a lot of guys leave over the last few years, so if we had all of those guys back it would be a different ball game. We really need the quality of what we’ve got coming through.

"I don’t think there is a quick fix to it and I didn’t think that when I came in, I knew it was going to be a tough job and I knew that’s what we were looking for.

"We need to reset ourselves and build for the future. I’d love to say there is a short fix but we need to knuckle down and make sure we’re developing these kids and bringing them through, and we reap the benefits of that in three or four years."

Ashcroft admits the Hawks have had to work overtime to fill a void in the depth department because "we haven’t had a decent under 18s side for quite some time".

However a look across the park at Greenway Oval suggests there is no shortage of talent coming through.

Jack Adamson was Tuggeranong's best on ground, while emerging trio Tommy Scrivener, Brad Hancock, and Gordon Chatfield-Beasland impressed against the defending premiers.

"They all carried themselves really well out there, and we’re more than happy with it," Ashcroft said.

"That’s what we’re trying to hold off to get through and get a big of age behind them and size, but they’ve certainly been playing some really good football."

The Tricolours have shortened the gap between the first-placed Belconnen Magpies and the rest of the top four to just one game, setting up a tantalising race to the finals.

But they will be forced to sweat on the fitness of Cam Bernasconi who was taken to hospital with a concussion in the first quarter.

"The scoreboard, it’s going to sound ridiculous, doesn’t reflect [the game]. They probably got more out of it than we did, so full credit to them, they gave it a red hot go," Ainslie coach Chris Rourke said.

"I think Pete Ashcroft is doing a really good job... They really put pressure on our blokes who tried to be a little bit fancy. They’d be pleased with the outcome, it’s not great on the scoreboard but for the actual game they played really well."

AT A GLANCE

AFL Canberra: Round nine -

QUEANBEYAN TIGERS 3.3 6.3 13.6 16.9 (105)
GUNGAHLIN JETS 1.1 2.2 3.2 3.6 (24)

BELCONNEN MAGPIES 0.7 3.10 4.15 5.18 (48)
EASTLAKE DEMONS 2.2 6.5 9.7 12.8 (80)

AINSLIE TRICOLOURS 5.4 10.6 12.9 15.19 (109)
TUGGERANONG HAWKS 0.2 0.4 0.5 1.5 (11)