Paul Dimattina considers move to state politics as a Liberal Party candidate

A former AFL star is considering running as a Liberal Party candidate at the next state election in a potential head-to-head clash with the Health Minister.

Paul Dimattina has been highly critical of the government’s pandemic response. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Former AFL player Paul Dimattina is considering running for state parliament.

Dimattina, who played 131 games for the Western Bulldogs before being delisted in 2003, told the Herald Sun he had been approached by the Liberal Party and was considering running next year.

Liberal Party sources said Dimattina could run for the seat of Albert Park in a bid to oust the incumbent, Health Minister Martin Foley.

“We think if he ran in Albert Park we could win that,” one senior Liberal said.

Paul Dimattina. Picture: David Caird

Dimattina during his playing days.

Dimattina, who owns South Melbourne’s Lamaro’s Hotel, has been highly critical of the government’s pandemic response, and has called for Daniel Andrews to resign. “It’s true, I’ve been approached and am considering running.”

He has been particularly critical of the lack of support for businesses, and said ongoing lockdowns and restrictions had decimated his business. “We were the most liveable city in the world … we’re not anymore, which is really sad. I’m a proud Victorian, well, I was, I can’t say I am anymore.”

Originally published as Paul Dimattina considers move to state politics as a Liberal Party candidate