Tony Modra

Biography

Tony Modra took the leap from South Australian country football to an extraordinary level of AFL fame within two spectacular seasons.

Reluctant to leave the country life to play for West Adelaide in the SANFL, Modra dominated Riverland football with Renmark before committing to the Bloods in 1991. He was picked up by Adelaide as a concession pick and in his first season booted 21 goals in eight games. Modra-mania exploded in 1993 when he kicked 10 against Richmond in the opening round, and that season he finished with 129 goals. Against Richmond he kicked a Club record 13.4. Pictured to the right is the ball with which Modra kicked his 100th goal in the 1993 season.

In 1996, Tony Modra was awarded the Fos Williams medal for being best-on-ground in a 126 to 91 victory over Western Australia. The Fos Williams medal, named after the legendary South Australian player and coach, is awarded to the best South Australian player in an inter-state or inter-competition match. Following the discontinuation of the State of Origin competition in 1999, the medal is now awarded to the best player in the annual match between the SANFL and another state league.

Greg Anderson (1993), Andrew Jarman (1994), and Simon Tregenza (1995) are the only other Crows to have won the award.

Overall, only Jason Dunstall (Hawthorn, 145 goals in 1992) and Tony Lockett (St Kilda, 132 goals in 1992) have kicked more goals in a season in the last 25 years. Through to 1997 he was Adelaide’s leading goalkicker for five-straight seasons, and in 1997 claimed the AFL’s Coleman Medal (below) and a second All Australian nod.

Cruelly, Modra’s season ended early in the preliminary final when he severely injured his knee and missed the grand final win the following week. He made his comeback late in 1998 but was overlooked for most of the final series including the 1998 grand final, leading to his move to Fremantle. Modra’s 440 goals for Adelaide remains a club record.