Babic, a Pascoe Cup grand final winner with Lake Albert in 2016, replaces Ross Morgan who has stepped down due to family commitments after two years at the helm.

The Wanderers narrowly missed the top four this year in their first tilt in Canberra, but the under-18s and under-20s both won the NPL Two premierships in a strong sign for the future.

"The key is to get the quality players playing in the Pascoe Cup on board if we can," Babic said.

"Realistically we only need two or three because the young talent's there. If we get the right senior players, I think we'll be in good shape.

"I'm not about poaching, it's got to be their decision and they have to want to be there.

"In the past imports haven't worked as much, or contributed to the club as much as we'd like. We're just not attracting players better than we have local and I'm all about the local talent.

"We want the players to see it as that (the best level in town). There's a lot of kids here who want to play at a high level, and the only way to get better is to play at the highest level you can."

Babic, who coached the club's 13 years boys National Premier League side this year. He also has previous senior coaching experience with Gymea United's women, North Sydney FC and captain-coach of Brisbane Knights.

Babic was Wanderers first grade assistant coach under Morgan for the back half of 2018, which will help with the transition.

He is hopeful of avoiding attracting enough player depth to avoid dual registrations, which has created some dramas.

"I'm not a fan of dual registration, I don't believe it does the player of the club any good," he said.

"I know we'd have to use it in the past because we've struggled with numbers, but hopefully we don't have to do that again next year.

"Ross, Andrew (Mason) and Liam (Dedini) have done an exceptional job and we have to keep it moving forward."

Morgan has no doubt he's Babic the right man to take his place.

"I've got massive respect for Michael. He helped me last year when I came into the role and his knowledge and experience is perfect for it," Morgan said.

"You've just got to look at what Andrew Mason and Liam (Dedini) have done with this year with the 18s and 20s (both premiers), and that's only going to benefit the first team the next few years.

"My two older boys want to play football next year so that's my Saturdays taken up with them, and we are planning a trip overseas which wouldn't let me commit as much as I'd like to.

"I think the club's moving in the right direction and to push for the top four next year they need someone there that's on the ground a bit more than I can commit to."

Griffith-based Morgan will now help oversee the junior programs in his home town.

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