The first-time coach pointed out that he believed the club had turned a corner and the players had to adopt a professional attitude if they wanted to return to the top of the ladder.

It’s an attitude Hind experienced when he joined North Melbourne in the Victorian Premier League.

When Hind departed North Ballarat the club was a premiership winning side but by the time he returned at the start of this season it had become a cellar dweller.

Having experienced the professionalism of premier cricket, Hind felt he could not only rebuild the club on the field but also off it, and has begun changing the way players treat cricket.

“There’s been a lot of changes,” he said.

“When I got to the club it was a bit undisciplined and it was place where everyone wanted to play cricket for the fun rather than for the success.”

While Hind has showed them the importance of being fit and doing extra training sessions, he said the mental side of the game was the major thing that needed improvement.

“I think most of all it’s the general morale and club culture and I’m trying to show the club how to do that and bring them together; you can enjoy cricket and win as well,” he said.

“You don’t have to have 18 beers and play cricket and have fun and think who cares if we didn’t try; you can say we actually tried, we trained twice a week, batted for four net sessions, we did whatever it takes.

“I think it’s pleasing to see some of the fellas actually wanting to take on that commitment and to take it on to better themselves and the club.”

Hind emphasised he knew it may take two or three years but said the juniors gave him confidence the club was on the right track.

“We’ve got more juniors than any other club in Ballarat and we’ve got more representative in under 16 and 18 (levels) so you’d think there would be some A grade players in there,” he said.

“I’ve played 15-year-olds in the seniors, I’ve played 16-year-olds, 17-year-olds, 18, 19; it’s just a matter of me over the next few years giving these guys as many games I can to build a successful team.”

In the meantime, Hind is focused on ending the season on a good note.

“We’ve got three very winnable games, I’d like to hope we can win all three,” he said.