Tony Modra
Encyclopedia
Anthony 'Tony' Dale Modra (born 1 March 1969) is a former Australian rules football
player, known for his spectacular mark
s. He played for the Adelaide Football Club and Fremantle Football Club
in the Australian Football League
, mainly at full forward. Modra had the physical strength and size to match the best opposition full backs in the competition. He played in the number 6 guernsey for both Adelaide and Fremantle.
in the SANFL, Modra began his AFL career later than most players at 23 years of age. At first his potential at full-forward
was overshadowed by senior player Scott Hodges
who had a reputation as a prolific goal kicker at the Port Adelaide Football Club
, also in the SANFL. Modra played a handful of games in his debut season of 1992, without making a great impact.
At the start of 1993, an injury to Hodges caused Modra to be put in the full forward position. Modra was an instant success, and finished the year with 129 goals.
Both the Crows and Modra had less successful seasons in 1994 through to 1996, although Modra topped the club goalkicking each year.
In 1997, Modra won the Coleman Medal
for the most goals in the AFL, and was also selected in the AFL All-Australian team. However a torn ACL knee injury sustained during a marking contest in the preliminary final caused Modra to miss the Grand Final.
After returning from the knee injury 10 months later in 1998 he failed to regain form and was not considered for the Grand Final. He was thus one of the few leading Crows players who did not receive a premiership medallion in either of the Crows premiership years of 1997 and 1998.
Modra's aerial ability was unsurpassed in his prime, and he was nominated for Mark of the Year
on numerous occasions, winning the award in 1993, 1997 and 2000.
for the 1999 season. By the middle of the 2001 season sore knees forced him to retire from the AFL at 32 years of age. His career games tally finished at 165 games for 588 goals.
He now lives in Victor Harbor
. He played in recent seasons for Encounter Bay in the Great Southern Football League. Currently Modra is playing for the Prince Alfred Old Collegians Football Club, alongside old team mate Mark Ricciuto
in division 4 of the South Australian Amateur Football league. He also plays in charity games such as the West End Slowdown and can still take huge marks. He also plays cricket for the Encounter Bay Cricket Club.
Modra kicked 10 goals against Lucindale on 30 June, 2006. Keith won by 119 points.
In his first senior Premiership since he was 21, Modra kicked 8 goals in Keith's win over Penola in the KNTFL Grand Final played at Naracoorte on 15 September, 2007. Final scores Keith 19.8 (122) defeated Penola 10.10 (70)
On 3 October 2011 Modra, along with other former AFL and SANFL stars such as Andrew
and Darren Jarman
, Gavin Wanganeen
, Mark Ricciuto
, Ben Hart
, Mick Martyn, Brendan Fevola
, Matthew Lloyd
and Dermott Brereton
played in the State of Origin Slowdown match at the Adelaide Oval
between South Australia and Victoria. The match was played for charity for the Little Heroes Foundation and saw SA run out winners 17.10 (112) to Victoria's 17.9 (111) on a goal 20 seconds from the final siren by Darren Jarman. Despite being 42 years old and what many consider past their prime for a footballer, Modra showed he had lost none of the high flying ability that wowed Crows and Dockers fans for a decade.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
player, known for his spectacular mark
Mark (Australian football)
A mark is a skill in Australian rules football where a player cleanly catches a kicked ball that has travelled more than 15 metres without anyone else touching it or the ball hitting the ground....
s. He played for the Adelaide Football Club and Fremantle Football Club
Fremantle Football Club
The Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in the port city of Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
, mainly at full forward. Modra had the physical strength and size to match the best opposition full backs in the competition. He played in the number 6 guernsey for both Adelaide and Fremantle.
Adelaide career (1992–1998)
After being recruited from West Adelaide Football ClubWest Adelaide Football Club
West Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the South Australian National Football League . Commonly known as The Bloods and Westies, the clubs home base is City Mazda Stadium located in Richmond, an inner-western suburb of Adelaide.-Early Years :West Adelaide was formed in...
in the SANFL, Modra began his AFL career later than most players at 23 years of age. At first his potential at full-forward
Full-forward
Full-forward is a position in Australian rules football and Gaelic football with a key focus on kicking goals.Leading full-forwards of the Australian Football League are usually among those awarded with the Coleman Medal for the most goals in an AFL season....
was overshadowed by senior player Scott Hodges
Scott Hodges
Scott Lyall Hodges is a former Australian rules footballer and champion goal kicker who holds the SANFL record for most goals kicked in a league season when he kicked 153 goals in 1990...
who had a reputation as a prolific goal kicker at the Port Adelaide Football Club
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
, also in the SANFL. Modra played a handful of games in his debut season of 1992, without making a great impact.
At the start of 1993, an injury to Hodges caused Modra to be put in the full forward position. Modra was an instant success, and finished the year with 129 goals.
Both the Crows and Modra had less successful seasons in 1994 through to 1996, although Modra topped the club goalkicking each year.
In 1997, Modra won the Coleman Medal
Coleman Medal
The Coleman Medal is awarded yearly to the Australian Football League player who kicks the most goals in regular-season matches in that year...
for the most goals in the AFL, and was also selected in the AFL All-Australian team. However a torn ACL knee injury sustained during a marking contest in the preliminary final caused Modra to miss the Grand Final.
After returning from the knee injury 10 months later in 1998 he failed to regain form and was not considered for the Grand Final. He was thus one of the few leading Crows players who did not receive a premiership medallion in either of the Crows premiership years of 1997 and 1998.
Modra's aerial ability was unsurpassed in his prime, and he was nominated for Mark of the Year
Mark of the Year
The annual Mark of the Year competition is a sporting award that celebrates each season's best mark...
on numerous occasions, winning the award in 1993, 1997 and 2000.
Fremantle career (1999–2001)
Adelaide traded Modra to FremantleFremantle Football Club
The Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in the port city of Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia...
for the 1999 season. By the middle of the 2001 season sore knees forced him to retire from the AFL at 32 years of age. His career games tally finished at 165 games for 588 goals.
Post AFL career
In his post-footballing career, Modra has become a Beef Cattle farmer.He now lives in Victor Harbor
Victor Harbor, South Australia
Victor Harbor is a city located on the coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula, about 80 km south of Adelaide, South Australia. The city is the largest population centre on the peninsula, with an economy based upon agriculture, fisheries and various industries...
. He played in recent seasons for Encounter Bay in the Great Southern Football League. Currently Modra is playing for the Prince Alfred Old Collegians Football Club, alongside old team mate Mark Ricciuto
Mark Ricciuto
Mark Anthony Ricciuto is a former Australian rules football player, who played for the Adelaide Crows in the Australian Football League...
in division 4 of the South Australian Amateur Football league. He also plays in charity games such as the West End Slowdown and can still take huge marks. He also plays cricket for the Encounter Bay Cricket Club.
Modra kicked 10 goals against Lucindale on 30 June, 2006. Keith won by 119 points.
In his first senior Premiership since he was 21, Modra kicked 8 goals in Keith's win over Penola in the KNTFL Grand Final played at Naracoorte on 15 September, 2007. Final scores Keith 19.8 (122) defeated Penola 10.10 (70)
On 3 October 2011 Modra, along with other former AFL and SANFL stars such as Andrew
Andrew Jarman
Andrew Newton Jarman is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Adelaide in the Australian Football League...
and Darren Jarman
Darren Jarman
Darren Jarman is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the Australian Football League. An elite midfielder-cum-forward, Jarman amassed a total of 386 games of senior football at SANFL, AFL and Representative level. He was widely reocgnised as one of the most skillful players of his era...
, Gavin Wanganeen
Gavin Wanganeen
Gavin Adrian Wanganeen is a retired Australian rules footballer, playing in two Australian Football League premierships with Essendon and Port Adelaide. Wanganeen is a Brownlow Medallist and is considered one of the finest indigenous players ever...
, Mark Ricciuto
Mark Ricciuto
Mark Anthony Ricciuto is a former Australian rules football player, who played for the Adelaide Crows in the Australian Football League...
, Ben Hart
Ben Hart
Benjamin "Ben" Hart is a retired Australian rules footballer, who played with the Adelaide Crows in the Australian Football League...
, Mick Martyn, Brendan Fevola
Brendan Fevola
Brendan Fevola is a professional Australian rules footballer. He played with the Carlton and Brisbane Lions football clubs in the Australian Football League....
, Matthew Lloyd
Matthew Lloyd
Matthew James Lloyd is a former Australian rules footballer who played for and was the captain of the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League...
and Dermott Brereton
Dermott Brereton
Dermott Hugh Brereton is a former Australian rules football player in the Australian Football League, regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation. Of Irish descent , he is known for his aggressive style of play. Brereton kicked 464 goals and played in five Premierships for during...
played in the State of Origin Slowdown match at the Adelaide Oval
Adelaide Oval
The Adelaide Oval is a sports ground in Adelaide, South Australia, located in the parklands between the Central Business District and North Adelaide...
between South Australia and Victoria. The match was played for charity for the Little Heroes Foundation and saw SA run out winners 17.10 (112) to Victoria's 17.9 (111) on a goal 20 seconds from the final siren by Darren Jarman. Despite being 42 years old and what many consider past their prime for a footballer, Modra showed he had lost none of the high flying ability that wowed Crows and Dockers fans for a decade.