LIBERAL candidate for McEwen Cameron Caine won’t concede defeat in the Federal election until all the votes are counted.

However, the former Kinglake policeman admitted last week that it would take a miracle postal vote count to get him over the line.

“But I always said I wouldn’t concede until all the votes are in,” he said.

“I’m like that; if my footy team is getting flogged, I still won’t leave until the final siren.”

Mr Caine was nominated to replace retiring member Fran Bailey in April. He described his four weeks on the election trail as “an amazing experience.”

“Since the fires, I’ve always said to people: ‘if a door presents itself, kick it open - give it a go and don’t regret anything.’ That’s what I did,” he said.

Looking back on a campaign that brought him into the national spotlight as the candidate in one of the most marginal electorates in the country, Mr Caine said he wouldn’t have done anything differently.

“Mentally and physically, I gave it my best shot; I couldn’t have done any more in the four weeks I had,” he said.

In his hometown of Kinglake, Mr Caine saw an 11.47 per cent swing to the Liberal Party with Kinglake West and Beveridge also earning 7 and 8.57 per cent swings.

Mr Caine puts this support down to his work raising awareness of the difficulties faced by many families recovering from the Black Saturday bushfires.

“I think I will go down as the first Liberal to turn the tables in the Kinglake area,” he said.

As Star went to print, Labor candidate Rob Mitchell held on to a 5.46 per cent margin to take the seat of McEwen.

With the excitement over, Mr Caine is happy to catch up on some sleep and spend some time with wife Laura and children Sian, Harry and Angus.

The 38-year-old is also keen to get back to Victoria Police where he served for 10 years before resigning the day the election was called.

The former plumber also plans to keep up his advocacy for men’s mental health and is looking forward to continuing to give presentations on the subject with bushfire survivor and close friend Ross Buchanan.

Despite looking forward to getting back into his police uniform Mr Caine refused to rule out a political career, saying he preferred to leave his options open.

“I want to get back to policing, but you can never say never,” he said.

“It was an amazing journey and I won’t write off anything.”