Eastwood backrower Locky McCaffrey to stand for seat of Bennelong day before Shute Shield semi-final

LOCKY McCaffrey will run for federal parliament on Saturday but he’s got a problem.

LOCKY McCaffrey will run for federal parliament on Saturday but heÂ’s got a problem.

He has to run for 80 minutes on Sunday for Eastwood in a Shute Shield semi-final as well, and his coach has made it known where McCaffrey should direct his preferences.

"Johnny Manetti has told me he doesn’t want me standing up for too long on Saturday trying to get votes," McCaffrey said.

Rugby rules so McCaffrey will restrict himself to only a few school halls, but the 23-year-old will still do his best to nab a few voters over the mandatory sausage sizzle.

In a curious new side-career, the former Waratahs and Force backrower is standing for the seat of Bennelong, the one-time seat of ex-PM John Howard.

McCaffrey was drafted into the political arena by father Simon, who is running for a Senate seat for the Democratic Labour Party. His brother Angus is also running for the DLP in the seat of North Sydney.

"I was a bit nervous at first because I am very busy trying to play good footy and looking for a contract after not really getting an opportunity in Perth, other than against the British and Irish Lions," McCaffrey said.

"I am not going in with too many expectations. It’s very new, politics. It’s been good getting out and chatting to people in Bennelong. I’ve lived there my whole life and played for Eastwood since I was eight. People seem appreciative a young sports person is getting involved, when I could have just been at home sitting on the couch."

McCaffrey, in particular, is strongly pushing the sporting policy of the DLP, which pledges to fund struggling amateur clubs.

"Because insurance and other costs are so high, a lot of amateur sporting clubs are having to fold. That’s where we’ll come in and fund these costs of insurance for amateur sporting clubs so they can continue, and grow young kids in different sports. It will create a healthy population," McCaffrey said.

"There’s a lot of political rhetoric about problems of obesity in kids and so on, but no-one is doing anything about it. It’s just talk."

McCaffrey is realistic. Up against sitting member John Alexander, he hasn’t started searching for Canberra real estate or hit up the Brumbies for a contract that will accommodate question time.

"It would be good to play with my little mate Nic White again, but yeah, realistically I think we’re a bit far off from that outcome. Hopefully we just get as many votes as possible," McCaffrey said.

Ultimately McCaffrey hopes his policies can drive bigger parties to also act, and points to the Coalition’s $10m pledge to redevelop TG Millner as an ARU centre of excellence as a positive step for the community.

There’ll be no huge party on Saturday for McCaffrey, in any case.

Eastwood and McCaffrey have another decisive result to chase the next day, when in-form Manly visit TG Millner Field. The winner will progress to the Shute Shield grand final.

A big performance could also help the ball-playing loose forward in his pursuit for a new club, or if Michael Cheika is impressed, a return to an old club.

"It gets tough for Eastwood. As always, we go well all year and these other teams like Sydney Uni and Manly get a lot of Super players back," McCaffrey said.

"But I am still very confident with the team we have got, and we’re at home, so hopefully there’ll be a huge crowd on Sunday.

"Hopefully there’s a big crowd in the Bennelong area who can support us both days, in fact. They can vote with their feet."

Spoken like a true politician.