1961 Ainslie First Grade Premiership Team
There were seven teams in the Canberra League in 1961, Acton, Ainslie, Eastlake, Manuka, Queanbeyan, RMC and Turner.
Ainslie finished the home and away games in second position behind leader Eastlake.
Ainslie defeated Eastlake in the Second Semi-Final by 15 points at Ainslie Oval to advance through to the Grand Final.
Final score: Ainslie 8.7-55 def Eastlake 5.10-40
Goal kickers for Ainslie: Durkin 2, Neeson 2, Cawson 2, Williams 1, Heales 1
Ainslie won the 1961 Premiership by defeating Queanbeyan by 8 points in the Grand Final. The game was played before a record crowd at Manuka Oval of 6,000.
Final score: Ainslie 9.12-66 def Queanbeyan 9.4-58
Goals: Durkin 2, Lyon 2, Cawson 1, Heales 1, Neeson 1, Kershaw 1, Robbie 1
Best: A Ray, Neeson, Ross, Browning, Kershaw, Gale, Irvine, Cawson
The Ainslie Grand Final team was:
Backs: Spencer, Carnegie, Ray
Half Backs: Palmer, Hincksman, Gale
Centres: Kershaw, Browning, Ross
Half Forwards: Williams, Neeson, Durkin
Forwards: Cawson, Lyon, Farrelley
Rucks: Irvine, Robbie, Heales
19th: Monaghan, 20th: Murphy
Reserves: Blomfield, Neave, Elliot, Cross
Coach First Grade: Norm Neeson
Second Grade
Ainslie Second Grade were defeated in the First Semi-Final by Turner to finish in fourth place.
Final score: Ainslie 2.6-18 def by Turner 6.8-44
Best: Anderson, Murphy, Neave
The Ainslie Second Grade team that played in the Semi-Final was:
Storkie, Dart, Pridham, Cross, Murphy, Porter, Scholes, Cartledge, Tonks, Farrelley, McGeachie, Brown, Voltz, Speering, Taylor, Kruger, Neave, Elliott, 19th: Emery, 20th: Anderson, Reserves: Calear, Bright, K Moore, Collis
Club Awards
First Grade
Best & Fairest: Alan Ray
Most Consistent: Keith Heales
Most Improved: Jim Robbie
Best Clubman: Peter Murphy
Second Grade
Best & Fairest: F Burke
Most Consistent: B Neave
Most Improved: E Kruger
Intermediates
Best & Fairest: P Murphy
Most Consistent: K Moore
Best Utility: J Williams
Most Improved: Laurie Laffan
1961 Office Bearers
President: H.J. Gaylard
Senior Vice-President: Stan J.L. Ray
Treasurer: R.J.R. Glynn
Secretary: Alan L. Ray
Committee: R Alder, A Bright, R Donnellan, L James, T Graham, J Rowe, J Robbie, H McCulloch, E Clifford, A Bennett
Patrons: Ralph Lewis, R.W. Chew