New Morphett Liberal candidate Stephen Patterson hailed as potential leader

FORMER Collingwood footballer Stephen Patterson is being branded a potential Liberal leader after deposing a “stunned” Morphett MP Duncan McFetridge in a preselection contest.

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FORMER Collingwood footballer Stephen Patterson is being branded a potential Liberal leader after deposing a “stunned” Morphett MP Duncan McFetridge in a preselection contest.

A former Liberal frontbencher who won the seat in 2002, Mr McFetridge yesterday declared his family and staff were also victims of his shock loss and were “deeply, deeply affected”.

The ousting of a sitting state Liberal MP as a candidate is rare in South Australia and has not happened for more than a decade.

It leaves the Liberals with a potential rogue MP in Adelaide’s southwest and also opens the prospect of Mr McFetridge quitting the party to become an independent, ahead of a state election in March next year.

“I was stunned at the result. I am talking to family and friends and will make a decision on what course I will take after taking it all in,” he told the Sunday Mail.

But party figures were keen to talk up Mr Patterson, the Holdfast Bay mayor, former Norwood footballer and a technology business owner.

One said: “He is his own person but someone who has leadership potential.”

Mr Patterson, who after his victory said preselectors were motivated by a desire for change, is not aligned to either of the party’s Right or Moderate factions.

Right leaders said Mr McFetridge’s failed push last year to legalise voluntary euthanasia had cost him support among conservative party members.

Moderate candidate Matt Williams, the former Hindmarsh federal MP, was knocked out after Friday night’s first round of voting.

Eight Liberal MPs elected at the 2014 state poll will now be replaced as candidates in what strategists are hailing as unprecedented generational change.

Among them is former deputy leader Steven Griffiths, who is retiring at the next election.

Fraser Ellis was preselected yesterday in Narungga, based on Mr Griffiths’ Yorke Peninsula seat of Goyder.

Karen McColl will stand in the Labor-held seat of Light after winning another preselection contest yesterday.