A BRILLIANT batting performance by Geelong West has sent out a warning to the entire competition that the reigning premier is back to its best and a force to be reckoned with over the rest of the season.
The Rams piled on 7-330 against Bell Post Hill at Myers Reserve, an imposing total on a ground not usually noted for heavy scoring.
The stars for the visitors were their captain Glen Talarico, who made 90, and Ken Spence, who completed a superb century - his second hundred at this level.
They were also backed up by Blake Nelis who completed his maiden half century for the 1st XI.
"We batted well," a pleased Talarico said.
"I won the toss and batted as anyone would have done.
"But the wicket was a little slow and low and the outfield was slower than the couch grass grounds as well.
"You had to hit the ball well to get it to the boundary. Our objective at the start of the day was to bat 85 overs and get a 200 plus score. So we were more than happy when the total went a lot further than that."
The Panthers were without their regular captain Richie Hassett and fast bowling spearhead Travis Faulkhead.
But they still would have been satisfied with their position when Geelong West was 3-71.

The Rams were also a player down with Sam Loftus unavailable. It meant Shane Arthur returned to the opening position and a promotion up the order for young Shaw Kitchen.
Arthur showed some semblance of his best form with 29 while Kitchen got a start without going on.
"When Ken Spence joined me at the crease I said we have to make sure we bat until break," Talarico said.
"Alex Cairns was turning the ball away from the left-handers, so he was a bit awkward to play and we had a bit of luck when the ball went on the air then fell between fielders a couple of times."
After the interval Talarico and Spence increased their fourth wicket partnership to 132 before the Rams captain fell lbw to Tim Sells.
Jarran Cook was soon caught behind off Cairns. Then Nelis joined Spence in another century stand.
"We ran well between wickets in both big partnerships," Talarico said. "Blake is a real whippet and Kenny kept going. It was the best and most mature innings he has played for the club. We added another 100 runs in the last 20 overs or so and they didn't seem to be able to get a good bowling partnership going to stem the run flow.

"If we can go on to win this it will be four in a row which is an improvement on where we were earlier in the season.''

The Rams win has knocked the Lions from third to seventh and keeps the reigning premier well in the hunt to have a chance to defend its title next year.

The game highlighted the development of Geelong West's pace attack and the fallibility of the East Belmont batting when confronted with sustained fast bowling.

The Rams were able to defend just 175 at Winter Reserve after Jarran Cook and Josh Vrbovski demolished the Lions top order.

Cook, in arguably the best form of his career, followed up his 4-34 from last round with 4-31 on Saturday.

His 32 was also equal top score with Glen Talarico in a Geelong West innings that never quite maintained the momentum of a 50-run opening stand between Ken Spence and Mike Chapple.

Sean Bogan (3-36) bowled another effective spell for the Lions as they chipped away at the Geelong West batting order.

Later, Grant Dew (31) and Mark Hanley got East Belmont back on track after its horror start. But when it slipped to 9-119 the game appeared over as a contest.

Peter Quick (37 not out) then brought all his experience to bear and he found a willing partner in East Belmont's No.11 batsman, Matt Caulfield.

The last-wicket pair added 39 runs and had sufficient overs to complete what would have been a miracle win.

Cook, though, was not to be denied, bowling Caulfield to once more turn the competition's form guide on its head.