The intense hate between Belconnen and Ainslie is set to reach a new level if they meet in the grand-final after the Magpies powered to a 24-point win in a brutal semi-final on Saturday.
???A host of players staggered off the field looking battered and bruised after Belconnen had survived an Ainslie onslaught in a 16.16 (112) to 13.10 (88) victory at The Nest.
Ainslie trailed by just eight points at three-quarter time before Belconnen stormed home in the final term to make Lexie Bennett's 300th club game and Ryan Turnbull's 200th first grade appearance an occasion to savour.
It means Ainslie will play the winner of the minor semi-final between Queanbeyan and Eastlake on Sunday, while Belconnen advances straight to the grand final.
Ainslie coach Chris Rourke was frank about the storied feud between the Magpies and Tricolours.
"There's no love lost. On the field we hate them as much as any team we can," Rourke said.
"It was a physical game and they won the competitive ball. I'm pretty happy we competed the way we did but they probably should have been further ahead at half-time and they blew us off the park in the second quarter. We're disappointed but that's the way it goes."
Bennett said the fierce rivalry between the two clubs dates back a long time and it makes wins like these so much sweeter.
Bennett's brother and Magpies player-coach James Bennett booted five goals in a best on ground performance to lift Belconnen to their second grand final appearance in three years.
It's a rivalry the brothers have grown up with, given their father David Bennett holds the club record for most first grade games for Belconnen with 268.
"For the last 40 years Belconnen and Ainslie have had a real good rivalry," Lexie Bennett said.
"Every time we play them we play for the trophy the 'Cock of the North'. We love to hate each other.
"[The game] was incredibly physical and fast-paced. Ainslie to their credit didn't stop trying all day so it was exactly what I thought it would be like. They've got a really quality side and they brought it up to us all day."
Belconnen slammed home a goal within the first minute of the final stanza when Jack Harper nailed one on the run from outside 50m.
Ainslie struck back through Henry Delves moments later but the hosts replied with a trio of majors to put the game to bed.
Bennett said the Magpies had no choice but to keep their foot on the Tricolours' throat through to the final siren.
"They have such a dangerous forward line that they can put four or five goals on in the space of a couple of minutes, so there was never really any chance to take the foot of the pedal and enjoy it until the siren went," Bennett said.
Queanbeyan host Eastlake in a sudden death minor semi-final at Margaret Donoghoe Oval on Sunday.
AT A GLANCE
BELCONNEN 5.5 10.13 12.15 16.16 (112)
AINSLIE 6.1 7.4 12.7 13.10 (88)
Belconnen Goals: J. Bennett 5, D. Bunyan 2, C. York 2, J. Kenna, M. Viney, D. Posch, J. Harper, A. Bennett, B. Turnbull, B. Walker
Belconnen Best: J. Bennett, B. Walker, L. Haddrill, B. Turnbull, D. Bunyan, S. Coate
Ainslie Goals: H. Delves 3, N. Paine 3, L. O'Neil 2, S. Curtis, B. Renet, B. Perry, C. Barrie, M. Ward
Ainslie Best: B. Perry, S. Curtis, J. Hirst, D. Bowles, J. Cuzner, M. Teasdale
