It was shaping up as the end of a Belconnen redemption story but instead it was Ainslie's Hayden Armstrong writing the final chapter in his own tall tale.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Tricolours clinched back-to-back AFL Canberra premierships with a 13.16 (94) to 7.10 (52) win over the Belconnen Magpies at Manuka Oval on Sunday.
Less than 48 hours ago Armstrong wasn't sure if he'd even be playing in the midst of a week that saw him make three trips to the tribunal to clear his name of a striking charge.
This time 12 months ago he was watching on from the stands with a broken hand as his teammates lifted the premiership trophy.
But all the pain and the trips to the tribunal will never take away the elation he felt when the final siren sounded.
"It's fantastic. I've got so much emotion going at the moment," Armstrong said.
"Three trips to the tribunal... definitely worth it. I only trained one time this week but thought I played pretty well. It's just great.
"It's been a week of mixed emotions, going to the tribunal a lot, but this just overrides. It's just a great feeling, I'm so happy."
If he wasn't one already, Ainslie coach Chris Rourke cemented his legacy as a club legend by delivering a fourth premiership to Alan Ray Oval.
Rourke has steered the ship at Ainslie for more than 200 games, with this flag following wins in 2010, 2011 (NEAFL Eastern Conference) and 2016.
"This is right up there because this one was hard," Rourke said.
"Not much went right and we've had to battle quite a few things. It's really good, this group is really special.
"We got a couple of people back. Ash Harris came back to help us mid-year just because we were so short on numbers at one stage.
"It's really special this one."
Ainslie skipper Simon Curtis was crowned the Alex Jesaulenko Medallist as the best on ground, while young gun Jack Powell may have got the perfect send off from club football ahead of the AFL draft.
Ainslie forward Nick Paine (three goals) proved nearly unstoppable as he led a first quarter onslaught that saw the Tricolours go three goals up at the first break.
It was the perfect launching pad for Ainslie's hopes of winning back-to-back titles, clicking the Tricolours forward line into gear.
Paine was assisted up front by Chris Barrie (four goals) and Henry Delves (three) to secure Ainslie's second title since leaving the NEAFL.
Delves booted two second quarter goals as the Ainslie forwards ran riot to open up a 26-point lead at half-time.
A Dom Bunyan goal on the stroke of three quarter time gave the Magpies a sniff heading into the final term but they couldn't conquer Mount Ainslie in the final quarter.
The Tricolours went within striking distance of winning all three grades for the second year in a row but fell just short of the historic milestone.
Ainslie capped off a second straight undefeated season in second grade, overcoming an early scare to beat Queanbeyan 13.10 (88) to 7.5 (47).
Marist came from fourth to win the Rising Stars premiership, suffocating minor premiers Ainslie into kicking 18 behinds for an 8.1 (49) to 3.18 (36) win.
AT A GLANCE
First Grade:
BELCONNEN 1.3 3.4 5.8 7.10 (52)
AINSLIE 4.3 7.6 8.9 13.16 (94)
Belconnen goals: Chris York, Jack Harper 2, Jeffrey Dowdell, Dom Bunyan 2, James Bennett
Ainslie goals: Henry Delves 3, Nick Paine 3, Ben Perry, Chris Barrie 4, Jack Powell, Blake Renet
Second Grade:
AINSLIE 3.2 7.5 9.8 13.10 (88)
QUEANBEYAN 4.3 5.4 5.5 7.5 (47)
Rising Stars:
AINSLIE 0.5 0.8 1.15 3.18 (36)
MARIST 2.0 3.0 6.1 8.1 (49)
