Interesting comment there Legs, unfortunately in constitutions and by laws etc there is very little room for flexibility, it has to be that way, or vested interests will get involved and before you know it the competition ends up a nightmare.
The HFL by laws were obviously interpreted by most clubs (including Echunga) meaning one thing (points for minor rd games only) during the season, and meaning something else (points accrued during finals) when Echunga were heading for Country division then those (original) by laws were ridiculous - can't we all see that and now agree?
So the board had very little room for such lateral thinking - that's why it allowed Echunga to move the motion at the SGM, to give the whole league the chance to vote (decide). Precedence was not taken into account by the judge, which, in a way is fair enough, he only deals by the exact wording of the by law(s) - so no matter how you try and explain it you (Echunga) are in Central on the legal technicality, and yes I do reckon if the points, at the end of the season means the premier CLUB is relegated then so be it.