AFL Great Koutoufides Rules out Joining Liberals, Eyes Independent Return

Susie Koutoufides and Anthony Koutoufides pose for a photo during 2024 Derby Day at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia on Nov. 2, 2024. Sam Tabone/Getty Images

Australian rules football legend Anthony Koutoufides says he has learned from his defeat at the City of Melbourne mayoral election last month, and will continue as an independent in future elections.

Koutoufides, who played 278 games for Carlton and is a club great, picked up 12.91 percent of the 87,852 votes, with victor and incumbent Nicholas Reece getting 23.36 percent and winning comfortably.

But Koutoufides said he learned valuable lessons from his defeat, and added he would return stronger and wiser.

“Life’s good. I’m not complaining. It was a good effort by everyone,” he told The Epoch Times.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t win, but that’s the way it goes, isn’t it?

“It would’ve been phenomenal if we had gotten over the line, but it proves we weren’t quite ready.

“Everyone worked hard. And I’m the sort of guy who will work extremely hard on something and have no regrets at the end.”

AFL Star to Remain an Independent–For Now

Koutoufides—who ran for mayor on traditionally conservative values such tackling rising crime, tightening the permit system for public protests, and revitalising small businesses—said he was not interested in joining the Victorian Liberal Party.

Yet the party’s recently selected leader, Brad Battin and deputy Sam Groth, espouse policies that could align with Koutoufides.

On Nov. 28, as the Victorian Liberal spokesman for criminal justice reform, Battin, tried to ban convicted criminals from receiving IVF (in vitro fertilisation) treatment.

This was after it was revealed convicted murderer Alicia Schiller would receive pregnancy treatment in her desire to raise a child until it turns five. She is housed as an inmate at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre.

“We want to introduce these Bills because the community is rightfully angry when you hear that a person is getting out of the prison system and taking leave to go and get treatment,” Battin said in state parliament.

But for now, Koutoufides has ruled out joining the Liberals at this stage.

“I haven’t really thought too hard about it [entering state politics],” he said.

Koutoufides Previous Pitch to Voters

Melbourne was once crowned the world’s most liveable city for seven years in a row—due to its living standards, cleanliness, and entertainment—but it has recently slumped in the Global Liveability Index.

After being dethroned by Vienna, Austria in 2018, post-pandemic Melbourne dropped to 10th place on the list, before steadily moving back into the top five in 2024.

A combination of rising crime, graffiti, and businesses closing due to cost-of-living pressures caused the drop.

While campaigning, Koutoufides spoke about giving Victorian Police in the Melbourne CBD financial incentives to help with ongoing pay and staffing disputes with the Labor government.

“We’ve spoken about the safety stuff and we spoke to the police association. Safety to me is the number-one priority. We’ve said there’d be safety booths around hotspots in the city, so it’ll be like a refuge if people feel a bit intimidated or scared,” he said.

“The other one is increased numbers of police, so if we subsidise or give them free car parking we’ll get a lot more police into the city.

He also said he would implement a permit system to limit public rallies that have had a disruptive effect on nearby small businesses.

“We say it’s human rights to rally—no problem. But at the moment there have been over 500 so far this year, and they’ve got to respect the fact there are still businesses operating and we still need access on the roads in case of emergencies.”

Former Footballer Preaches Physical, Mental Health

One of Koutoufides’s promises in his campaign was to get as many people active as possible, offering free weekly exercise sessions in open spaces across the city.

He believed a more physically and mentally healthy electorate would lead to increased productivity in the workplace.

Since his election defeat, he has maintained this attitude with his Kouta Fit business.

Kouta Fit’s mission statement is to prioritise a personalised approach for each individual, recognising that everyone faces unique challenges.

Koutoufides—also a public speaker—said a busy schedule might see him not devote as many hours to being a personal trainer next year.

But he said he noticed many of his clients had become more mentally resilient from his fitness sessions.

“It’s been for over a decade that I’ve been doing the community training,” he said.

“In terms of the mental health stuff it’s important, because you create communities and people turn up.

“They mingle and meet new friends. It’s not just about the training part of it; it’s the other aspects which can help you in life, too.”