Bulletin cricket writer Brent O’Neill discusses Gold Coast Dolphins’ title hopes in this week’s Long Run column

It’s been a long break between finals drinks for the Gold Coast Dolphins but the planets have finally aligned for another crack at Queensland Premier Cricket glory, as Brent O’Neill writes in this week’s Long Run column.

THEIR time is now.

It’s been a long break between finals drinks for the Gold Coast Dolphins but the planets have finally aligned for another crack at Queensland Premier Cricket glory.

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The Dolphins will enter the final day of the regular season on the precipice of their first playoff appearance since 2013-14, with nine Sandgate-Redcliffe wickets tomorrow the only thing standing in their way.

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There have been false dawns before but this emerging outfit is the real deal.

Without a first grade premiership since 2009-10, they have been aided by the continued exposure of captain Matt Kuhnemann, destructive batsman Max Bryant and rising quick Xavier Bartlett to representative duties this season.

Gold Coast‘s teenage all-rounder, Hugo Burdon. Picture: Mike Batterham

Throw in an incredible breakout campaign and Queensland second XI honours for Liam Hope-Shackley, the beyond-his-years maturity of teenage all-rounder Hugo Burdon and Josh Kann’s steep development and you’ve got the makings of a very dangerous side.

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Up to - and even including - this season, inconsistency has been an issue for this young crop but coach Chris Swan has finally got them pulling in the right direction.

Wins over heavyweights University of Queensland, Wests and Norths prove that – and with the club’s second, third and fourth grade sides also in or around the finals conversation, the reinforcements are on the way.

The Gold Coast Dolphins celebrate their 2009-2010 premiership.

“There was a few comments made earlier in the year around the depth and every grade is in with a shot,” Dolphins legend Scott Muller told me last week.

“There’s a lot to look forward to down there so it’s a credit to everyone involved.”

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Bang on. A top-four finish could be just the start for this Dolphins group, none of whom played in the 2013-14 semi-final side.

They now have a chance to create their own legacy, just as names like Scott Muller, Chris Swan, Andrew Robinson, Brad Ipson and Michael Neser did before them.