we either fill the bye
or
wodonga goes
quite simple, last in = first to go
Strictly speaking the new Sale & District or Sale and Area association is the last to join. The old Sale and the new Sale are two different entities. Sale and Area joined in 2001, Ovens & Murray (Wodonga) in 2000.
Strictly speaking 120,000 is a damn big "Country" town
Many anomalies - will be difficult to come up with a definitive answer without putting someones nose out of joint (that's assuming i have not done so already).
Adding weaker associations will only lessen the competition that has always been so strong (any of 4 mens teams could still have won this year going into the last game). Adding extra teams also means that some centres won't be big enough - if we go to 12 - Albury and Colac only have 10 lanes, 14 teams - Warrnambool and Sale with 12 lanes get added to the list. All of sudden half the associations don't get to host the comp.
Morwell and Geelong hosting year in year out means LV and Geelong will win a lot of the time (they both won last time they hosted).
Changing format to peterson points or minimum games rule totally disadvantages smaller associations and favour the bigger, stronger ones with more depth.
In my humble opinion the competition was at its best when we had 10 teams. It seemed to work okay for about 15 years. Sure, it meant no Saturday night get together but at least we finished at a decent hour every night and got home Monday at a respectable hour. No problems with byes when there was 10 teams either. All centres can host as none are less than 10 lanes.
Just don't know how we can return to that system though - i can't see anyone being kicked out and i don't think i would like to see that happen.
Maybe, whoever finishes last place gets dropped and we go back to 10. Then next year 10 place is also dumped. Those wanting to get back in - together with any new Associations such as Nth Geelong or Horsham can play for the final position for the following year. That way we get the "best of the rest" and the newer inexperienced centres get some serious competition and a taste of CCup (i can see many arguments against that idea too but thought i would add it to the list of suggestions!).
A merge between Warrnambool and Colac -- good idea Rob
Jason Way - 3 time allstar - winning CCup capt
Merv Billing - 5 time allstar - 5 time winning CCup Mens team
Shane Griffiths - 2 time allstar - 2 time winning CCup Men team
Tim Treloar - 1 time allstar - 1 time winning CCup men team
Mattie Wines - winning CCup team member - and made an opponent cry!
Neil Thompson - 7 times allstar - 4 time winning mens team
Ian Poysor / Kevin Bagg - both allstars and been in at least 4 or 5 winning mens teams
Eddie Way (could finally retire like he keeps saying he is going to !)
Now that is a team that would take some beating!
Manager - would be a fight between Tania and myself - i would probably lose that one - i can't coach so i guess No 1 supporter would be my role.
Just have to decide on a shirt and we are right to go