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KEW - Melbourne's inner east

Sitting member - Tim Smith, Liberal, 0.43 per cent margin

Outspoken MP Tim Smith will not recontest the blue ribbon seat after drunkenly crashing his car into a fence last year. The Liberals have preselected Jess Wilson, a past advisor to former treasurer Josh Frydenberg. She could face a challenge from a "teal" independent in a similar vein to pediatric neurologist Monique Ryan, who ousted Mr Frydenberg from the overlapping federal seat of Kooyong in May.

RICHMOND - Melbourne's inner east

Richard Wynne, Labor, 5.46 per cent margin

The Greens are again eyeing the inner-Melbourne seat after the federal election "greenslide" and the impending retirement of veteran Labor MP Richard Wynne. Labor has preselected former staffer Lauren O'Dwyer, while the Greens are pinning their hopes on former Yarra City Council mayor Gabrielle de Vietri.

Russell Northe, independent, 1.84 per cent margin

With the retirement of National-turned-independent Russell Northe, Labor and the Nationals will fancy their chances of picking up the seat. Doctor Kate Maxfield has been nominated as the Labor candidate, while Traralgon plumber Martin Cameron is the Nationals' pick. Labor held the seat for 36 years before Mr Northe was elected.

Louise Staley, Liberal, 0.02 per cent margin

If the 2018 election results were replicated following last year's electoral boundaries redivision, Labor would pick up the ultra-marginal seat. Louise Staley, one of a handful of women in the coalition's shadow cabinet, retained the seat by just 15 votes in 2018. She faces a challenge from Martha Haylett, a former staffer to Premier Daniel Andrews.

HAWTHORN - Melbourne's inner east

John Kennedy, Labor, 0.42 per cent margin

Former high school principal John Kennedy pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the 2018 poll by unseating then shadow attorney-general John Pesutto, who wants the seat back in what could be a three-way battle between the Liberals, Labor and another "teal" independent.

PAKENHAM - Melbourne's outer southeast

New seat, notionally Labor, 2.2 per cent margin

One of nine new seats following the redrawing of electoral boundaries. Notionally it's Labor's seat to lose, based on results in 2018, but the Liberals are mounting a challenge.

Ali Cupper, independent, 0.34 per cent

Independent Ali Cupper secured the Victorian Mallee seat from the Nationals four years ago with Labor preferences. The Nationals have preselected former Swan Hill mayor Jade Benham.

NORTHCOTE - Melbourne's inner north

Kat Theophanous, Labor, 1.71 per cent

After briefly slipping from Labor's grasp, the seat of Northcote could be again prised away from the Andrews government by the Greens. Labor suffered a 4.3 per cent swing against it in 2018 and the Greens have put up climate action advocate Campbell Gome to seize on the electorate's mood.

David Southwick, Liberal, 0.27 per cent

The now deputy Victorian Liberal leader came within 204 votes of losing the seat, held by the Liberals since 1979, in 2018. Mr Southwick scraped through on preferences but would have been defeated if the current boundaries were in place four years ago. Lawyer, journalist and ex-ALP member Nomi Kaltmann has been chosen to run as the Voices of Caulfield's independent candidate.

NEPEAN - Melbourne's outer southeast

Chris Brayne, Labor, 0.91 per cent margin

The Liberals believe retired big-serving tennis star Sam Groth will prove an ace with voters despite only moving to the area in 2020. The marginal seat fell to Labor for the first time in 2018 and is a must-win for the coalition, which needs 18 seats to reclaim government outright.

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