Dolphin brigade is ready to kick

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.

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

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

Without a first grade title 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.

Throw in a breakout campaign and Queensland second XI honours for Liam HopeShackley, the beyond-hisyears maturity of teenage allrounder Hugo Burdon and Josh Kann’s steep development and you’ve got the makings of a very dangerous side.

Up to – and including – this season, inconsistency has been an issue for this young crop but coach Chris Swan has 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 in or around the finals conversation, reinforcements are on the way.

“There was a few comments made earlier in the year around the depth and every grade is in with a shot,” Dolphins

THERE’S A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO DOWN THERE.

DOLPHINS LEGEND SCOTT MULLER

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.”

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.