DARLEY Cricket Club's highly experienced assistant coach Shane O'Brien hopes to bring a "winning culture" to his club and says the future "looks bright" for his side despite it sitting fourth from bottom in the Ballarat Cricket Association first grade competition.

With only two matches remaining, O'Brien concedes his side will not join the finals series.

But he's optimistic about what the future holds for his young side.

"At the moment we are struggling a bit, but the number of players we've had in has been better this year and we are slowly improving," O'Brien said.

"This is our 10th year in the Ballarat Cricket Association and we are at a rebuilding stage with many players under 19 who are still developing.

"But we have managed to get some senior players back over the last few weeks and they will be better prepared for next season."

O'Brien has had a lot of experience developing young players in his time as coach of the Western Spirit's under-18s and as junior development coach at the Footscray Edgewater Cricket Club, and he's hoping to offer the young players at the club the "chance to play district cricket".

"I would like to improve these players here and offer them a pathway towards playing Premier Cricket.

"The turf pitch at Darley is the perfect place to learn," O'Brien said.

"The players need understanding and experience and I'm here to give them an idea about what that's about and what needs to be done."