Caruso, a four-time premiership player with the Ovens and Murray club, was announced to Hawk players as Matt Allen’s replacement before their reserve grade victory against Lavington in the first semi-final at the Albury Sportsground yesterday.

Club president Mark Booth said he was confident Caruso would be the right man for the job.

“He’s a student of the game,” Booth said.

“Mick’s one of those fellows would go well no matter what job he took on.

“We looked inside and outside the club and he was far and above the best person for the position.

“The club sat down two years ago realising we were in the midst of our least successful on-field period since inception and set out the plans of how we wanted to move forward.

“Mick has all the attributes to ensure that plan continues.”

Caruso had also been approached by several rival O and M clubs.

Booth said Wangaratta Rovers short-listed four applicants after scouring two states and speaking to 15 prospective candidates for the position.

Recruited as a player from Maryborough in 1987, Caruso played in premierships in 1988, 1991, 1993 and 1994 and collected two Did Simpson medals during a stellar 265-match O and M career.

He won the Hawks’ best and fairest in 1990.

Caruso coached Greta in 1997, leading the Blues to a grand final in his first year and premiership in 1999 before returning to the W.J. Findlay Oval.

“What Mick has done as a player speaks volumes in terms of knowing what is required to be successful,” Booth said.

“His professional attitude toward preparation and his knowledge of the game made him the stand-out applicant.”

Allen has coached the Hawks for the past two years.