Andrew Swan's last-minute soccer off the ground broke Ainslie's hearts on Saturday, and handed ladder-leading Queanbeyan their most stirring win of the season.
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It was arguably the AFL Canberra leading goal scorer's ugliest six pointer of the season, but his most important as the Tigers' four-point win in co-coach Kade Klemke's 100th match kept them top of the competition, ahead of Belconnen on percentage after the Magpies' 22-point win over Eastlake.
The bruising encounter at Aulich Park, which Ainslie had led by four goals at three-quarter time, came at a cost with both clubs losing players in the muddy conditions.
Ainslie's Guy Richardson went down late in the third quarter with a suspected torn ACL in his knee, while former Western Bulldog and Carlton Blue Jason Tutt injured his shoulder, and Harry Muir went off with a hamstring complaint.
For the Tigers, Isaac Edgar failed to finish the match with concussion and ruckman Anthony Lo Pilato copped a shoulder injury.
That meant Swan spent large stints in the ruck during the second half, but he managed to sneak forward when it counted.
"We were really reluctant to move him and put him in the ruck, but we had no choice unfortunately," Tigers co-coach Adrian Pavese said.
"We still had the ability to move him forward, especially in the crucial part of the day. I'm just glad we won a close one.
"Ainslie were fantastic, geez they played well, and we knew that they would keep coming as the season progressed because they had a relatively new squad, new coaching structure. The fact that we were able to find a way back into the game in the second half was very pleasing."
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Ainslie dominated proceedings for most of the afternoon before Queanbeyan produced a six-goal-to-two final term to overhaul the gutsy visitors.
Jordan Iudica booted Queanbeyan in front during time on in the last quarter. Daniel Ledda's major regained the lead for the Tricolours before Swan had the final say.
"We had no bench ... we were out on our feet, at three-quarter time I think we may have had one fit person on the bench, and playing good sides like that you need a full bench," Ainslie coach Jordan Doering said.
"Unfortunately for us, that's the way the cookie crumbles, I couldn't be prouder of the boys, we've taken massive leaps forward.
"As I said to them in there, our best is good enough to mix it with the top sides like the Belconnens, the Queanbeyans and the Eastlakes."
AFL CANBERRA ROUND 12
Queanbeyan Tigers 11.8 (74) def Ainslie Tricolours 11.4 (70)
Belconnen Magpies 14.9. (93) def Eastlake Demons 9.17 (71)
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
