Belconnen's second half resurgence denied Eastlake a win but the Demons have declared they can "mix it with anyone" in the AFL Canberra competition.
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The Demons have experienced a lean couple of years in the first grade competition with a stack of the club's best talent playing in the NEAFL competition.
But Canberra Demons coach Kade Klemke's bid to lure more of AFL Canberra's best players to the NEAFL has had a knock-on effect and strengthened the local league.
Eastlake announced themselves with a 219-point win in round one and were well in control against the Magpies at The Nest on Saturday.
But Magpies player-coach James Bennett asked his squad to lift and they rose to the occasion to turn a 21-point half time deficit into an 18.16 (124) to 15.9 (99) victory.
Belconnen and Eastlake have been at opposite ends of the spectrum in recent seasons and Bennett says the Demons' rebirth is a huge boost for football in Canberra.
"You want to win every week but you would love to win tough games every week," Bennett said.
"That's the goal for the competition, to get to that point where it's six teams who rock up at the start of the competition at the start of the season and all have a chance to win a flag, then it's may the best man win from there.
"But it's obviously four really good sides this year and that'll make for an exciting comp come the end of the year."
Eastlake held the lead for nearly the entire contest before Magpies stalwart Ryan Turnbull won a decisive holding the ball call right at the end of the third term.
Turnbull nailed the goal after the siren to nudge the hosts ahead by two points - a lead they wouldn't surrender.
Bennett called on his senior players to lift and Turnbull, Chris York, and Lexie Bennett responded to push Belconnen to back-to-back wins.
An even split of thrashings and tight games has been the "nature of the competition" in recent years but Eastlake coach Peter McGrath says the tide is starting to turn.
"Last year [Eastlake] was probably a victim of the NEAFL situation, but certainly this year that's not as much the case," McGrath said.
"We've got a good young list and we're confident that we can actually go very well. We just need to keep improving and not be satisfied with not getting wins.
"We certainly think we're a contender. We're confident that we can mix it with anyone."
Meanwhile, the Queanbeyan Tigers piled on 25 goals to pick up their first win of the season over the Tuggeranong Hawks at Greenway Oval.
Tigers stalwart Ryan Quade bagged seven majors as Queanbeyan established themselves as a finals contender in the 25.14 (164) to 4.5 (29) victory.
The meeting of the reigning premiers and last year's wooden spooners was a lopsided affair with Ainslie knocking over Gungahlin to the tune of 177 points.
AT A GLANCE
AFL Canberra round two
BELCONNEN MAGPIES 4.3 7.7 15.9 18.16 (124)
EASTLAKE DEMONS 4.1 11.4 15.7 15.9 (99)
Belconnen Goal Kickers: C. York 5, D. Posch 4, D. Bunyan 2, A. Bennett 2, R. Turnbull, L. Harper, J. Dowdell, J. Taylor, B. Turnbull
Belconnen Best Players: S. Ryan-Baker, M. Viney, J. Kenna, B. Walker, A. Jones, J. Bennett
Eastlake Goal Kickers: A. Wilson 5, J. Kerin 3, S. De Sousa 2, H. Bryant, J. Gunning, J. Crowe, M. Pert, S. Darcy
Eastlake Best Players: N. Stewart, B. McGinness, J. Hancock, H. Bryant, S. De Sousa, A. Wilson
TUGGERANONG HAWKS 0.2 3.2 3.5 4.5 (29)
QUEANBEYAN TIGERS 6.3 10.7 15.10 25.14 (164)
Tuggeranong Goal Kickers: M. Ghirardello, B. Cleaver, T. Ghirardello, S. Ellis
Tuggeranong Best Players: B. Cleaver, S. Ellis, M. Ghirardello, J. Adamson , M. Maloney, T. Ghirardello
Queanbeyan Goal Kickers: R. Quade 7, S. Lancaster 4, Z. Derksen 4, A. Page 3, J. Bridger 2, C. Palombi, J. Bryce, P. Slater, J. Carroll-Tape, J. Simpson
Queanbeyan Best Players: B. Lagana, R. Quade, S. Lancaster, Z. Derksen, M. Price, J. Taylor
AINSLIE TRICOLOURS 13.3 18.7 22.13 31.19 (205)
GUNGAHLIN JETS 0.0 1.1 3.3 4.4 (28)
Ainslie Goal Kickers: H. Delves 5, D. Ledda 3, L. O"Neil 3, M. Ward 3, S. Curtis 2, H. Armstrong 2, A. Wiles 2, N. Paine 2, B. Renet 2, A. Vickers, S. Sienkiewicz, T. Powell, J. Taylor, J. Cuzner, B. Perry, T. Ford
Ainslie Best Players: B. Renet, J. Costigan, D. Ledda, S. Curtis, J. Taylor, A. Wiles
