Former AFL player Tony Modra remains in critical but stable condition in an Adelaide hospital after a truck accident on his cattle property on Thursday afternoon. The 57-year-old, who played for Adelaide and Fremantle, sustained head injuries when a tree branch reportedly broke through the windshield of the truck he was driving.
Wife Expresses Gratitude to First Responders
Erica Modra, Tony's wife, has publicly thanked the two first responders who arrived at the scene in Back Valley, about 90km south of Adelaide. Former Crows captain Mark Ricciuto, a close friend of Modra, conveyed her message on his Triple M breakfast show on Friday morning.
“She just wants to say a very big thank you to the first responders, called Sarah and Anthony, who saved his life and helped talk through to Erica while things were going down,” Ricciuto said. “She said he’s going all right. It’s pretty amazing that he’s got through it.”
Modra's AFL Career and Legacy
Modra rose to fame with the Adelaide Crows between 1992 and 1998, known for his spectacular high marking and prolific goal-kicking. He later played three seasons with Fremantle, alongside current Dockers coach Justin Longmuir. After his AFL career, Modra settled on a beef and cattle farm at Waitpinga, south of Adelaide, in 2003.
Longmuir expressed his support after Fremantle's win against Geelong on Thursday night. “He’s obviously a big part of the Freo family and all I can say is I wish him and his family well. Hopefully, he can pull through. I’m thinking of him. We’re all thinking of him and his family.”
Tributes from Political and Football Figures
SA Premier Peter Malinauskas and opposition leader Ashton Hurn described Modra as an “icon” of the state. Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks highlighted Modra's unique impact on the sport and the Crows.
“There’s certain people that have an aura about them and Tony is one of those,” Nicks said. “When you think about the Adelaide Crows, Tony’s name is one that comes to mind. He’s an entertainer. We all have different roles at a football club, his role was to entertain.”
Nicks noted Modra's enduring popularity. “The profile he had, I don’t think it changed him at all. It’s not the character that he is; he’s a country boy through and through. Our prayers are there, our thoughts, everything we can possibly do – which is not much at the moment – is there for him. We just hope he fights through this one.”
