Adam Heuskes

Adam Heuskes
Personal information
Full name	Adam Heuskes
Date of birth	20 March 1976
Place of birth	Boronia, Victoria
Original team(s)	Norwood (SANFL)
Draft	5th overall, 1993 National Draft Sydney Zone Selection, 1996 Draft Port Adelaide
Height / weight	190cm / 93 kg
Playing career^1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1994–1996 1997–1998 1999–2000 Total	Sydney Port Adelaide Brisbane Lions	049 0(6) 037 0(1) 039 0(5) 125 (12)
^1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2000.

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.^[1]

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. At the end of 2000 his career was over after playing 14 games during the season.

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 1992, and is married to Nikki Kosmider.

Off-field behaviour and controversy

Heuskes has gained notoriety for incidents involving alcohol, and an inability to maintain self-control.^[2] He has twice been accused of raping young women in front of, or with, team mates.^[3] Police have been involved in both of these cases, and one woman claims she was paid for her silence.^[4][5] Both women later spoke out in a Four Corners program about sexual assault in AFL^[6]

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.

References

1. Four Corners – 03/05/2004: Fair Game?
2. http://www.ausport.gov.au/fulltext/2004/abc/s1100551.asp Ausport
3. Four Corners – 03/05/2004: Fair Game?
4. The World Today
5. Swan Helped Pay $200,000 Over Rape Claim
6. Four Corners – 03/05/2004: Fair Game?

External links

• Adam Heuskes's statistics from AFL Tables