by Davyd Reid
Mason McGarrity put through a whopping 18 goals as Neerim-Neerim South demonstrated why they may be the best side in the Ellinbank District competition.
With Longwarry dropping the points to Buln Buln, the Cats scored a thumping 28-15 (183) to 5-3 (33) over mid-table hopeful Yarragon to move to outright ladder leader.
The Cats were on from the outset, moving the ball with speed to quickly have McGarrity on the board and a second in the opening two minutes.
Brendan Hermann made a fine set shot from the pocket, the breeze bringing it back nicely for an early highlight for the Panthers.
A costly turnover at half back saw the Cats go deep for a Tom Muir snap, as the visitors began to take control.
The fast ball movement saw the Cats begin to find McGarrity regularly, the forward putting through the next five majors to open a 46-point margin at the first change.
While the Panthers were able to stem the tide somewhat in the second term, the Cats still added five goals to one.
A double 50-metre penalty gifted Devin Pollock the sole major for the home side.
McGarrity added another four majors in the third term, the Cats adding seven goals to two to well and truly have the match in their keeping.
Braydon Preuss scored late in the third and early in the final term, but the Cats didn't let up as McGarrity added another five majors in an eight-goal term for the visitors.
Ayden Ramm, Kody Wilson, Tyler Pratt, Tyssen Morrow and Tom Muir also were prominent behind the best afield performance from McGarrity.
The Panthers were best served by Jack Symes, Robert Hermann, Brendan Hermann, Braydon Preuss, Jayden McCormack and Pollock.
The second half was plagued by electrical issues owing to construction works at the ground.
In remarkable scenes the goal umpire at the scoreboard end was handed a spare whistle to blow the end of the game upon attention from the timekeepers.
The Cats may need to have some contingencies in place at their home ground this week, with Ausnet blocking out two planned one hour outages in the town on Saturday.