The head of the NSW Fire Brigade Employees Union has emerged as the likely candidate to represent the Greens in the key Sydney seat of Grayndler.
The potential move of Labor's longtime Grayndler MP Anthony Albanese into neighbouring Barton has moved the inner-west electorate to the top of the Greens' target list at the next election.
Jim Casey, a former member of the International Socialist Organisation and state secretary of the FBEU has declared his candidacy for preselection in a YouTube video.
Speculation has swept Greens ranks that retired AFL star Adam Goodes had been approached to run for Grayndler but a party source poured cold water on the idea on Wednesday.
Fairfax Media understands Goodes has spoken to at least one high-ranking Green. In 2013, the dual Brownlow medallist and anti-racism crusader revealed an interest in a post-football career in politics, describing himself as "very green" on issues such as the environment.
The federal redistribution has changed the complexion of Grayndler, which has in turn affected the Greens' preselection.
Bruce Knobloch, another former member of the International Socialist movement and a member of Greens senator Lee Rhiannon's "eastern bloc" grouping, had declared himself a candidate through the "Bruce Knobloch for Grayndler" website.
But he will now contest preselection for the seat of Sydney, held by Labor's deputy leader Tanya Plibersek.
Mr Casey, who is close to Greens' state MP Jenny Leong, was once described by a senior Green as "to the left of Chairman Mao" but he was also described this week as "not as rabidly left as Lee Rhiannon".
In His YouTube pitch, Mr Casey said making areas like Grayndler affordable again was on top of his agenda.
"We need to stop our town becoming a place where only the uber-rich can enjoy themselves," he said.
"We do that by stopping shying away from aggressive tax reform and investing in social and public housing. There's no reason that you can't make housing affordable and put an end to homelessness in Sydney."
He said, if selected, he would run a "strong, energetic and unashamedly left campaign" in Grayndler.
Mr Casey has headed the FBEU for seven years. The union disaffiliated from the Labor Party in 2001.
Under the proposed redistribution by the Australian Electoral Commission, Grayndler would take in Drummoyne and parts of Balmain but lose working class areas of Marrickville, Mr Albanese's strongest power base.
The state seat of Balmain has become a three-way tussle between the Liberal Party, Labor and the Greens, with the "chardonnay left" to become a bigger factor in Grayndler due to the redistribution. If the Greens receive a higher primary vote than the Liberals in Grayndler they could succeed on preferences.
Mr Albanese, who has held Grayndler since 1996, said he would make no decisions either way on a switch to Barton until the boundaries were finalised but said he would be confident of retaining Grayndler in any scenario.
"There's nothing mainstream about the NSW Greens. Whoever they choose, it will be a decision of the Stalinist party machine," he said.
Goodes did not return calls.
