As always, the Blowes Clothing Cup has thrown up countless storylines during the past four months.
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Regular powerhouses have continued to dominate and some sides have struggled, while there was a fierce battle for the minor premiership and the top four.
As well as that, a host of new players came into the competition and put their names up in lights.
With finals have begun, the coming weeks will see Australian Community Media journalists from across the Central West take a look at each side they are knocked out of the running.
We'll look at the good, the bad, the sometimes funny, and even a little bit of the ugly. All while analysing what has happened and what is to come.
We start the series with the side that finished with the wooden spoon in 2019; Orange City.
In 30 words or less, sum up the side's season?
MATT FINDLAY (Central Western Daily): Their performances were better than 2018. They just lacked the experience necessary to close games out, losing six games by two tries or less. I only need one word - frustrating.
NICK GUTHRIE (Daily Liberal): City's a side in complete redevelopment against sides much further down the road than them. There was signs of improvement this year but nowhere near enough to be a threat.
BEN RODIN (Cowra Guardian): The proud lion shows signs of coming out of its long hibernation
Did this season finish better than you thought, worse, or as expected?
FINDLAY: They played a pretty good brand of rugby and, from everything I hear, with Viv Paasi's focus on culture and improving standards they've taken some massive steps forward off the field, both very positive things. But I predicted the Lions to win a handful of games in 2019, so in terms of results, it was worse than I thought it would be.
GUTHRIE: As expected, while still showing promise. This year was always going to be tough but things weren't helped by a raft of injuries. That probably made results a little worse than everyone would have expected.
RODIN: Better than expected - I think the competitiveness Viv Paasi has instilled in his team will set the Lions up for beyond this year, and they've made steady progress. The reserves featuring in finals this year is also testament to their growing depth.
What was the side's highlight in 2019?
FINDLAY: Their draw against Emus, without a doubt. I don't think anyone who was there that day would disagree with me saying the Lions should've won. They celebrated as though it was a win and they deserved to, they'd spent years being hammered by Emus so it was a breakthrough result and despite the fact I play for Emus, I look back and actually wish they had won that game.
GUTHRIE: The draw is the simple one to look at. Emus could well win the premiership again this and, up to now, City has got closer to beating them on home turf than anyone. It wasn't just the result, the performance showed there's plenty of heart and spirit within the club. Another fighting effort against Forbes in the penultimate round was also promising.
What was the disappointment, if any?
FINDLAY: I'm keeping this purely about rugby rather than other incidents and having seen the looks in the eyes of some of the Lions' senior players after last weekend's final-round hammering, I'd say that was their lowest point of 2019. The 76 points they conceded on Saturday was the most they'd leaked all year and although it wasn't their heaviest defeat it was, to be brutally honest, a complete bloodbath. Their performance and the game itself was no indication of the Lions as a team, they knew that, and you could tell they were all absolutely gutted.
GUTHRIE: The loss of Josh Tremain is the obvious one but in rugby terms, you can't help but look at results and wonder if there is progress? The fact is, City finished the season without a win and that's a massive disappointment for any side.
I share the view of many others that there is progress. Scores don't show everything. But that many losses can hit confidence and belief and that's a tough thing to get back. City had chances to win games this season but didn't. Not being able to drag themselves across the line in so many matches will no doubt continue to sting during the off-season.
RODIN: The loss of Josh Tremain in a milestone game left a sour taste in fans' mouths across the competition, and was something that rocked the Lions camp for weeks afterwards.
Which of the players caught your eye this season?
FINDLAY: Tom Nell, Keegan Harding and Fletcher Rose.
Harding returned to the club this year while Nell is synonymous with the Lions now, they formed a potent combination in the halves and were the Lions' best all season.
Rose, still a colt, took to the top grade like a duck to water and was superb on the side on the scrum.
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GUTHRIE: I really didn't see a whole lot of City this year but the showing from stand-in captain Bart Young in an injury-ravaged Lions side against the Dubbo Roos late in the year was brilliant. His side was gone at half-time but he dragged his young side back up and kept them going even thought the game was lost. City needs more talent on the park, but it also needs that belief and leadership. Young was nowhere near the captaincy when the season began but he finished as someone his players can follow in the coming years.
To fittingly run with the lion theme, Young and the experienced players need to be the Timon and Pumba to the youngsters' Simba and help them grow.
What needs to be done for 2020?
FINDLAY: They need to keep the group together, or at the very least the core of the group. Being so young they'll be better for the experience they've picked up in a tough, character-building 2019 campaign. Although their undersized pack's effort was never in question, they were missing size and if they could a couple of big boppers, it'd make a big difference.
GUTHRIE: City isn't the only young squad in the region. There's teams like the Lions in every sport in every town. The key is adding one or two players who will improve the side while continually developing the players you've got. The foundation is now there for City. Building on it and winning multiple games next year has to happen now.
RODIN: A few extra players and more depth across the park will help the Lions build into next year, but it definitely feels like after a tough few years the Lions are on the right track, and the club's administration should have the confidence to back in their plan for an extended period.
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