Adam Heuskes (born 20 March 1976) is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League most remembered for his on field flamboyance and controversial off-field behaviour, which twice resulted in rape allegations. His decorated career includes the title of “most likely player to sexually assault a woman in the off season”[1]

Adam Heuskes
Personal information
Full name Adam Heuskes
Date of birth (1976-03-20) 20 March 1976 (age 48)
Place of birth Boronia, Victoria
Original team(s) Norwood (SANFL)
Draft 5th overall, 1993 National Draft
Sydney
Zone Selection, 1996 Draft
Port Adelaide
Height 190 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Weight 93 kg (205 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1994–1996 Sydney 049 0(6)
1997–1998 Port Adelaide 037 0(1)
1999–2000 Brisbane Lions 039 0(5)
Total 125 (12)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2000.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Recruited from South Australian National Football League (SANFL) club Norwood, Heuskes made his AFL debut in 1994 with the Sydney Swans and immediately attracted attention in the media and the football world for his outrageous hairstylings.

He was traded to Port Adelaide Football Club in 1997, a decision which the Swans later regretted, as Heuskes earned All-Australian selection later that year. Heuskes' attacking flair as a defender set up numerous goals.

For the 1999 AFL season, Heuskes was traded to the Brisbane Lions, where he was a solid contributor during the Lions' 1999 finals campaign. He retired suddenly at age 24 towards the end of 2000, having lost the motivation to play at the full time professional level; then-coach Leigh Matthews commented that he simply walked out on the club after his final match without attending the next recovery session.[2]

Heuskes later played 31 games for SANFL club North Adelaide before succumbing to an ankle injury in 2005 which forced his retirement from all forms of the game.

Heuskes has a daughter, Tayla, born in 1994, and is married to Nikki Kosmider.

Off-field behaviour and controversy

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Heuskes has gained notoriety for incidents involving alcohol, and an inability to maintain self-control.[3] He has twice been accused of raping young women in front of, or with, teammates.[4] Police have been involved in both of these cases, and one woman claims she was paid for her silence.[5][6] Both women later spoke out in a Four Corners program about sexual assault in AFL[7]

Also known for his flamboyant style, two notable haircuts included the image of the Sydney Opera House shaved into the back of his head, as well as his guernsey number (39). He was also a cross-dresser who appeared on televisions' The Footy Show and Live and Kicking regularly during 1998 and 1999. He once dressed up as Madonna and performed the song Holiday.

Statistics

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[8]
Legend
  G  
Goals
  K  
Kicks
  D  
Disposals 
  T  
Tackles
  B  
Behinds 
  H  
Handballs 
  M  
Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
1994 Sydney 39 10 1 1 76 61 137 22 19 0.1 0.1 7.6 6.1 13.7 2.2 1.9 0
1995 Sydney 39 17 2 2 133 112 245 51 20 0.1 0.1 7.8 6.6 14.4 3.0 1.2 0
1996 Sydney 39 22 3 0 242 123 365 88 23 0.1 0.0 11.0 5.6 16.6 4.0 1.0 1
1997 Port Adelaide 39 22 0 0 284 137 421 95 32 0.0 0.0 12.9 6.2 19.1 4.3 1.5 4
1998 Port Adelaide 39 15 1 2 150 90 240 66 14 0.1 0.1 10.0 6.0 16.0 4.4 0.9 2
1999 Brisbane Lions 31 25 1 1 299 143 442 151 24 0.0 0.0 12.0 5.7 17.7 6.0 1.0 5
2000 Brisbane Lions 31 14 4 1 155 71 226 81 10 0.3 0.1 11.1 5.1 15.1 5.8 0.7 0
Career 125 12 7 1339 737 2076 554 142 0.1 0.1 10.7 5.9 16.6 4.4 1.1 12

References

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  1. ^ "Four Corners – 03/05/2004: Fair Game?". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 7 August 2007. Retrieved 14 August 2007.
  2. ^ Alex Zaia (29 March 2021). ""Didn't return my calls": Matthews recalls "sliding doors moment" involving ex-Lion". SEN. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  3. ^ http://www.ausport.gov.au/fulltext/2004/abc/s1100551.asp Archived 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine Ausport
  4. ^ "Four Corners – 03/05/2004: Fair Game?". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 7 August 2007. Retrieved 14 August 2007.
  5. ^ The World Today
  6. ^ Swan Helped Pay $200,000 Over Rape Claim
  7. ^ "Four Corners – 03/05/2004: Fair Game?". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 7 August 2007. Retrieved 14 August 2007.
  8. ^ Adam Heuskes' player profile at AFL Tables
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