A THIRD Liberal Party nominee for the Corangamite electorate has emerged at the eleventh hour.

Geelong physiotherapist Marcus Dripps, who lives in the Corio electorate, announced he would stand for Corangamite preselection on Wednesday before nominations closed.

Mr Dripps has five children and he says his family is “involved in a wide range of community and sporting groups in the Geelong region and on the Surf Coast”.

He said he was “committed to improving the opportunities of the communities within the electorate”.

Mr Dripps is vice-president of the Australian Physiotherapy Association.

Mr Dripps will vie for votes against Gherang businessman and father of three Rod Nockles and former Corangamite Liberal candidate Sarah Henderson.

Mr Nockles was a preselection nominee for the 2010 last election and was the first potential candidate to raise his hand, launching his campaign last year.

Mr Nockles lost the party’s last preselection to Ms Henderson, who came within 770 votes on a two-party preferred result of winning the Corangamite seat against Labor MP Darren Cheeseman.

Ms Henderson, of Barwon Heads, is a communications consultant and former journalist.

Liberal Party Corangamite branch vice-president Richard Riordan said preselection was important for the party and all financial members of the branch could vote for their preferred nominee.

“I’m excited there is going to be three candidates and that all 600-odd members with a small percentage of broader party delegates, will get a chance to vote,” Mr Riordan said.

“From a party perspective and in light of the state of federal politics, the preselection of a candidate will greatly strengthen the party’s ability to win back the seat at the next election.”

A Liberal Party spokesman said the party expected to announce a candidate for Corangamite by the end of June.