The ACT ceased to be a strong Aussie Rules territory over 25 years ago – its demise corresponding with the Swans moving to Sydney in the same year that the Raiders were admitted to the then NSWRL.
It was also around this time that the legendary Cowboy Neil, a St Kilda and Ainslie FC icon, hung up his boots.
The ACTAFL can manage only five local teams these days, its stocks bolstered by the participation of the Swans Reserves, which at least does say something for the quality of the league under tough circumstances.
Ainslie FC has not had much success in the past decade, but in the latter half of the last century was an absolute powerhouse in local Aussie Rules, and to this day, still has a reasonable amount of resources at its disposal.
Like one or two other Aussie Rules clubs in Canberra, they manage a player salary bill of upwards of $500,000 per annum, which is a fair bit in a semi-professional competition in a non-AFL area.
In the late 80s and early 90s, it won six premierships in a row, adding to an already formidable list of awards.
The club has an interesting trophy on permanent display in its foyer in its original clubhouse at Ainslie (a once working class inner-city suburb that is now mostly gentrified).
A premiership Cup? Player of the century award? Some major representative honour?
No. It’s an old perpetual U13 Best and Fairest award that bears the following three names:
1. Shaun Smith (awarded the AFL mark of the century in 1995);
2. Nathan Buckley (Collinwood great and ex-captain, now assistant coach, being primed to take over from Mick Malthouse); and
3. James Hird (Essendon great, ex-captain and dual premiership winner).
It’s unlikely that any suburban club of any description in Australia boasts three names such as these on the one best and fairest trophy.
Of these three names, only James Hird was drafted directly from Ainslie FC. He was taken at a very low no. 79 in the 1990 draft.
His father played some four games with Essendon, while his grandfather was a premiership player who played over 100 games with the Dons and would later become a club president, having a grandstand named after him at Windy Hill.
So 19 years later, Jason Tutt becomes the newest player to be drafted directly from the Ainslie FC, and the first Canberra player to be drafted from the ACTAFL since current Swans co-captain, Craig Bolton, was drafted eleven years ago by Brisbane.
Only one other NSW/ACT Rams player was drafted this year, but he actually comes from Echuca, on the Victorian side of the Murray River.
Jason Tutt was taken by the Western Bulldogs at number 31, a very high selection which raised quite a few eye brows around AFL circles, as well as in the Tutt household.
Jason was hoping that he would be picked up by the Bulldogs, but was shocked to go so early, and in fact at that point, was only half watching the telecast, but when he heard the name Ainslie, he knew it had to be him.
As one can imagine, the Tutt household has been complete mayhem since Thursday night.
Jason still had to attend school this Monday to finish up, but instead will be required at West Footscray on Sunday for his first training run, meeting up with his new team mates for the first time.
He has already received the friendly advice to pick a locker well away from that of Barry Hall.
By all accounts the Bulldogs rate his pinpoint kicking, as they do that of their first round selection, Christian Howard.
He is known for his quick legs, run and carry off the half back flank, and capacity to spot up targets with his long kicking on the run, very much in the mould of the Bulldogs’ Lindsay Gilbee, who is known for his accurate 65-metre kicks.
He did very well in all the athletic tests at the recent draft camp, scoring a more than reasonable 14.4 in the beep test.
Jason has an interesting sporting background in that he has also represented Australia at softball, which suggests he has the mental capacity to play sport at the elite level.
The Bulldogs had another surprise selection up their sleeve, taking Shane Thorne of the Northern Territory at no. 76. It’s quite rare for a 23 year old from a minor state/territory to be drafted.
He is known locally as “Mr Magic”, so it’s possible he was on the Bulldog’s radar for a while.
Perhaps the Bullies have hopes of Thorne emulating the original NT Michael “Magic” McLean?
platts
Guest
team of the century has a black and gold bias I see.
bever fever
Guest
Former Adelaide Crows midfielder Robert Shirley to turn his back on an AFL career and join AFL Canberra club Ainslie. Shirley has knocked back an offer from new AFL franchise Gold Coast FC and will instead join Ainslie on a one-year deal. http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=1-1051-0-0-0&sID=54793&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=10814678§ionID=54793 Seems Ainslie might be starting to spend some of their millions, but at any rate its a bit of a boost for the code in ACT
Pippinu
Roar Guru
I think the seniors outgrew the South coast comp a long time ago - the Sapphire Coast comp is actually quite strong - from memory there are two teams playing out of Merimbula, and Mallacoota from across the border plays in it as well. The juniors playing locally is probably just a cost thing - it's a fair hike from the Bay to Mallacoota!
bever fever
Guest
Yep seniors in the Sapphire coast and juniors in the South coast AFL, not sure why this is the case.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
I know the Bay had aobut two years in the ACTAFL - I presume they went back to the Sapphire Coast League - is that right?
bever fever
Guest
But Pip who wants to go to Sydney when the same amount of time will get you to the beautiful south coast, from Ulladulla down to Merimbula .... beautiful coastline. Maybe the ACTAFL should bring Batemans Bay out of hibernation, might get a few retired players back for the road trip.
bever fever
Guest
I am not up on where they will play all their home games (GWS), but i am hoping they play at the new stadium in Blacktow upgraded to fit in around 15k. i am aware of transport issues to this ground and cricket pressures, but 15k will i reckon provide a great atmosphere and Blacktown is definetly GWS territory, homebush is far to big for them. Wonder what will happen as Fitzpatrick's company now owns/leases ? homebush stadium.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Depending on where they ultimately play games - but it really is only a 2 hour drive from Canberra's Northern suburbs to Western Sydney.
Republican
Guest
bever fever Joke accepted mate! Crickey, I hope your right. I think the game is going to go gang busters in NZ myself. The time is ripe for the Australian diaspora to profile the code to great effect in this respect. Does anyone know how many Schools are being infiltrated by our game in NSW, esp since the Hawks have tapped into this potential GR in NZ? The NZ Herald has even given this a plug - on their web site anyway. Cheers
bever fever
Guest
Republican, i think before the AFL get really serious about NZ - if they ever do that ACT, Tassie, Darwin and Nth Qld will all be in front of NZ probably Perth for that matter as well. BTW IMO Perth could handle another team now which would probably have 40k of members within a couple of years. I would say that with GWS now just down the road ACT will see more resources, i mean lets face it Canberra is nearly a suburb of Sydney these days (attempted joke)
Republican
Guest
Beverfever I worked with Jimmie Black and conned him into playing a couple of indoor hockey games once, which tested his fitness out suprisingly. What a terrific Rover/Follower he was. I remember he and Eddie Blackaby playing blinders when we beat the big V at Manuka all those years ago. Kevin Cowboy Neal was inspirational as well on the day. A bloke by the name of Peter Kenny went to St Eddies with me and played for Manuka. He was recruited by Carlton however a series of Injuries put pay to an otherwise promising career. I reckon there could well be room for him as well on this ACT/ Qbyn team of the century. Pip I think there may well be a few rookies yet to be confirmed from the ACT, which bodes well for the GR of the game here. I sincerely hope that the AFL start honouring this demographic more, at least above and beyond that of their preoccupation with NZ currently. The 'Australian' has an article detailing Hawthorns involvement and expectations for the game there, which is quite disturbing if you hail from a small Footy demo ie ours or even moreso the NT. I am more than happy for NZ to be considered as a future demo for developing and recruiting promising young AFL athletes however I am very opposed to any off shore elite base being established in one of their major cities, at our expense, as I continue to postulate. I would expect AFL supporters around the country to show solidarity in supporting regions ie as ours, if this indeed presents as a real threat, in pressuring the AFL to honour its heartlands, first and foremost. Cheers
Michael C
Roar Guru
certainly - and I've got no idea who won the Heyfield B&F's in those years.
AndyRoo
Guest
Not all codes have that B&F system of 3 players getting a mention though.... I vote an u13 team photo should be good enough. Perhaps the coach and manager also have to at least have the same last names as one of the players (i.e. their someones dad) to make sure no one sneaks in an accademy team Just regular suburban u13's, who got the most freakish cluster of talent. The Wagga/Ainslie effect. MC is right though, Hayfield need to be investigated.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
But I repeat - it's not about producing a list - it's about a real live original perpetual U13 B&F trophy with the said names on it.
Michael C
Roar Guru
Heyfield footy club would probably have an impressive recent list. (Wojo, Leigh Brown, Ferguson, Mark Stevens and Adrian Cox)......that's before the kids get to Gippsland Power. ANd Heyfield, ain't a large regional centre like Sale or Traralgon.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
That's an interesting fact, and a good trivia pursuit question.
AndyRoo
Guest
I know when you start putting together school's teams you would get some pretty amazing stories because school teams are more focussed i.e. Rugby Schools, League Schools, Sports Schools. But a suburban club it's much more of a freak occurance and interesting for mind. I can now think of one club team that could challenge. I don't remember the age group or the club name but I remember in Robbie Slater's book their is a photo of his junior futbal team and it also contains Mark Waugh and Steve Waugh.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
AndyRoo thank you that's precisely what I am saying - there's an old U13 perpetual B&F with three pretty big names on it (for our game). I'm aware that plenty of junior clubs are to be found all over Australia producing good talent for their respective sports, but you won't find too many original junior trophies in existence with three illustrious names on it. But if they exist - let's hear about it - if nothing else - it's a great topic!! (and I'm talking for all the codes - an original perpetual U13 trophy).
Michael C
Roar Guru
we had 1981 with Phil Kelly and Peter Spencer from WA and Hodgeman and Jonas from SA all in one go. Ebert and Cornes came in 1979, Ebert just shy of 30, and Cornes was 31. A bit ambitious??? We got 5 games from Cornes and a serviceable 25 from Ebert. In 1982, we got Jim & Phil Krakouer, Bruce Abernethy and Craig Holden. We were a real foreign legion around then.
AndyRoo
Guest
Freud, I think Pip's point is that in one U13 team their were at least 3 AFL players two of which were super stars. Pip wasn't making out that Ainslie FC were putting the Geelong Falcons to shame every year in the talent producing stakes but 2 super stars and another good player all on the same trophy... that is a pretty amazing occurance. My local Futbal team have the stub showing Matt Mackays (Bne Roar) first registration on display...not quite as good as Ainslie's effort :P