Kurt Heatherley
Personal information
Date of birth (1995-01-01) 1 January 1995
Place of birth Tauranga, New Zealand
Original team(s) Sandringham Dragons (TAC Cup)
Draft No. 61, 2014 rookie draft
Debut Round 20, 2016, Hawthorn vs. Melbourne, at Melbourne Cricket Ground
Height 193 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight 89 kg (196 lb)
Position(s) Defender
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2014–2018 Hawthorn 5 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2018.
Career highlights

New Zealand National Team 2014
New Zealand U16 team 2012

Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Kurt Heatherley (born 1 January 1995) is a professional rugby union player for Jersey Reds. He previously played rugby union for Auckland and played Australian rules football for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). A key defender originally from Tauranga in New Zealand, Hawthorn recruited him as a sixteen year old in 2011.

Early life

Heatherley was born in Hamilton, New Zealand and attended St Paul's Collegiate School.[1]

He was scouted by the Hawthorn Football club recruiter Graham Wright while playing for New Zealand at the FIBA Oceania Under-16 Championship in Tasmania. Heatherley, still at school as a 16 year old, had been a competent basketball and rugby union player he was chosen for his athletic qualities, particularly his pace, jump and height. He also represented Australian rules in for the New Zealand|U16 national team. He was invited by Hawthorn to the 2012 AFL Draft Combine.[2] After an outstanding performance at the Combine, Hawthorn convinced Heatherley to relocate to Melbourne where he would complete his secondary schooling at Caulfield Grammar. In 2014 he also represented New Zealand national side against the AFL Academy.[3]

Australian Rules Football career

He was formally recruited by Hawthorn as an international recruit with their fifth selection and sixty-first overall in the 2014 rookie draft.[4][5]

This gave him the chance to development his game through school, the TAC cup and the VFL.

He was promoted to the main list in 2015 after consistent performances playing for Box Hill Hawks in the VFL having participated in a Minor premiership in the 2015. He made his debut as a late replacement against Melbourne in round 20, 2016 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.[6] Following the 2018 season, Heatherley was delisted.[7] Although he wanted to continue in AFL, he was not offered an opportunity with any other club.[8]

Statistics

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
2014Hawthorn46 0——————————————0
2015Hawthorn34 0——————————————
2016Hawthorn34 1006511620.00.06.05.011.06.02.00
2017Hawthorn34 4002522471870.00.06.35.511.84.51.80
2018Hawthorn34 0——————————————0
Career[9] 5003127582490.00.06.25.411.64.81.80

Rugby Union career

In 2019, Heatherley changed sports to rugby union, joining Auckland in New Zealand's Mitre 10 Cup.[10]

He joined English Championship side Jersey Reds ahead of the 2020–21 season.

References

  1. ↑ We're playing their game here: The Kiwis embracing Aussie Rules from NZ Herald 31 Aug, 2017
  2. ↑ "Dumped Kiwi Hawk 'praying for a second opportunity'".
  3. ↑ Kiwi Kurt Heatherley to make Hawks debut
  4. ↑ Quayle, Emma (22 April 2013). "Taking the long road". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  5. ↑ Jay, Clark (27 November 2013). "Hawthorn rookies teenager Shem Tatupu as one of two New Zealand scholarship holders". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  6. ↑ Collins, Ben (6 August 2016). "Hawthorn's Kiwi to make flying debut against Demons". AFL.com.au. Bigpond. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  7. ↑ "Hawthorn Cut Trio". Triple M. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  8. ↑ "Dumped Kiwi Hawk 'praying for a second opportunity'".
  9. ↑ Kurt Heatherley's player profile at AFL Tables
  10. ↑ "'Auckland snap up AFL youngster for Mitre 10 Cup". TVNZ. 7 August 2019.
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