There might have been panic over lopsided scores, but Ainslie coach Chris Rourke says their upset loss to rivals Eastlake shows the AFL Canberra points salary-cap is working.
While Demons coach Peter McGrath was deflecting talk of his side announcing themselves as premiership contenders, he did say they don't fear anyone after their 29-point victory over the Tricolours at Manuka Oval on Saturday.
Rourke said his players could look forward to a tough night on Tuesday after the 17.6 (108) to 11.13 (79) loss.
It was Ainslie's first of the year and came two weeks after Tuggeranong coach Nathan Costigan said his Hawks couldn't compete with the Canberra powerhouse.
Rourke said Eastlake were too "hard at it" and it highlighted how even the top-four teams in the competition were.
There's a salary-cap point system in place, which assigns a value to each player from a club junior up to a recruit that's played AFL.
"Everybody's got this thing that we're unbeatable. We didn't take our chances early and they outworked us in the second half and were far more disciplined," Rourke said.
"The points system may be doing its job. The whole footy world panicked when they saw the scores of Gungahlin and Tuggeranong, but the other four sides are really close.
"We got over the line against Queanbeyan, we got over the line against Belconnen and then today they just overran us."
The Tricolours led by 10 points at the first break, but the Demons worked their way back into the game controlling the second half to run out convincing winners.
Joseph Kerin kicked five goals for the home side, while Harry Bryant was excellent through the middle and Jess Johnson did an excellent run-with role on Ainslie onballer Simon Curtis.
The Demons overcame a couple of injuries in the second half, with Matthew Pert dislocating a shoulder and unable to finish the game.
Eastlake coach Peter McGrath said the win was "great for the footy club" after they've struggled in recent seasons, finishing second last in 2016 with just three wins.
They sit third, but only separated from top-placed Belconnen by percentage.
Belconnen went top courtesy of their 71-point victory over fourth-placed Queanbeyan, while Tuggeranong had their first win of the season beating winless Gungahlin by 41 points.
"It's great for the footy club to get a win over Ainslie who have been the benchmark over the last 12 months, it just gives our group a lot of belief," McGrath said.
"We don't fear any side, which is great. We just want to keep the momentum going, momentum's such a big thing in footy and at the moment it's with us."
Meanwhile, the Canberra Demons have held on to their spot in the NEAFL top six despite losing to Sydney University.
They went down to the second-placed team by 71 points, 17.24 (126) to 8.7 (55), at Blacktown on Saturday.
AT A GLANCE
AFL CANBERRA FIRST GRADE
Belconnen 4.3 6.8 11.9 19.11 (125)
Queanbeyan 1.1 3.2 7.4 8.6 (54)
Goals - Belconnen: C. York 7, S. Coate 3, D. Posch 3, J. Bennett 2, J. Harper 2, L. Haddrill, L. Harper; Queanbeyan: Not supplied.
Best - Belconnen: J. Bennett, C. York, R. Healy, S. Coate, A. Bennett, A. Jones; Queanbeyan: Not supplied.
Tuggeranong 5.1 6.2 13.3 18.6 (114)
Gungahlin 2.2 4.5 8.6 11.7 (73)
Goals - Tuggeranong: S. Ellis 6, J. Whatman 3, M. Ghirardello 2, A. Pocock 2, M. Channon, B. Cleaver, B. Sherring, M. Asher, B. Toy; Gungahlin: Not supplied.
Best - Tuggeranong: S. Ellis, T. Ghirardello, M. Maloney, B. Cleaver, T. Cleaver, M. Ghirardello; Gungahlin: Not supplied.
Eastlake 3.0 8.3 12.4 17.6 (108)
Ainslie 4.4 7.7 8.11 11.13 (79)
Goals - Eastlake: J. Kerin 5, J. Dowse 2, J. Johnson 2, C. O'Rourke 2, L. Lupton, A. Wilson, H. Bryant, J. Mesman, J. Gunning, J. Hancock; Ainslie: N. Paine 2, H. Delves 2, M. Ward 2, J. Maynard, C. Barrie, M. Thompson, J. Hirst, B. Perry.
Best - Eastlake: J. Kerin, H. Bryant, C. O'Rourke, J. Hancock, J. Johnson, J. Mesman; Ainslie: J. Costigan, M. Ackland, B. Perry, H. Delves, D. Ledda, J. Hirst.
NEAFL
Sydney Uni 4.5 8.8 12.15 17.24 (126)
Canberra Demons 3.2 4.5 5.7 8.7 (55)
