Melbourne, the home of AFL footy, will now have an Aussie-rules twist added to it's local council elections.

In a shock political ploy, Carlton football legend Anthony Koutoufides, affectionately known as 'Kouta,' has announced his candidacy for the Lord Mayor of Melbourne.

The news confirms weeks of speculation and marks a surprising career shift from dominating the footy field to potentially leading one of Australia's most iconic cities.

Koutoufides, 51, played 278 games for Carlton and was a superstar part of their 1995 premiership team, his towering presence on the field and versatility as a player earning him a reputation as a powerhouse of the modern game.

But now, he's ready to tackle a different kind of challenge: Melbourne's CBD, which he says is in โ€œutter crisis.โ€

โ€œYour voices need to be heard and the final quarter has just started,โ€ Koutoufides declared in a statement.

โ€œVote for a better Melbourne.

"Let's make our city vibrant again!โ€

These are the rallying cries in Kouta's campaign for the city of Melbourne.

Koutoufides is running as an independent candidate, aiming to address key issues like the exodus of government and corporate workers from the city, the rise in homelessness, and vacant shopfronts.

His bold plan includes introducing new laws to ensure that government and corporate workers return to their offices at least four days a week.

His platform also includes a two-year freeze on rates and fast-tracking planning permits for more affordable housing. He wants to encourage the conversion of office spaces into residential areas to provide more accommodation options and tackle the cost-of-living crisis head-on.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 7: Anthony Koutoufides #43 for the Blues celebrates a goal during the round nineteen AFL match between The Essendon Bombers and the Carlton Blues at the M.C.G. on August 7, 2004 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

While it might sound like an episode of a reality TV show, Kouta is dead serious about his bid. He'll be up against current Lord Mayor Nick Reece and a host of other candidates in what promises to be a closely watched race.

With his charismatic leadership style and a reputation for fighting until the final siren, Koutoufides could very well be a wild cardย  candidate this election.

As the election nears, one thing's for sure: the city is in for an exciting, if not slightly ridiculous, political showdown.

In the words of Kouta himself, โ€œthe final quarter has just started.โ€ And who better to lead Melbourne to victory than one of the AFL's greatest?