AFL legend Tony Modra’s wife has released a statement on his condition after he was seriously injured in a truck crash, saying it was “pretty amazing” he had survived the accident.
Modra, 57, remains in the intensive care unit at Victor Harbour Hospital following the single-vehicle crash at Back Valley on the Fleurieu Peninsula on Thursday evening.
Police said emergency services responded to reports a truck had crashed into a tree on Range Road about 5.15pm. Modra was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries.
Speaking on Triple M’s Breakfast with Roo, Ditts, and Loz on Friday morning, former Adelaide Crows teammate Mark Ricciuto read a statement from Modra’s wife, Erica.
“She 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 read.
“She wants to thank the MFS and the emergency personnel at the Victor Harbour Hospital who stabilised him and got him sorted until the intensive care team took control and looked after him.
“There are people ringing her and she obviously can’t get back to everyone, so she is a bit overwhelmed with everything.
“She said he’s going all right, it’s pretty amazing that he has got through it.
“She said he’s not going to be the same good looking Tony Modra, he’s going to have some scars. I said he can be like us for once instead of being good looking.
“He’s going OK and our fingers are crossed he’s going to get through it. He’s in a reasonable position at this stage.”
Ricciuto, who played alongside Modra at Adelaide and counts him among his closest friends, became emotional as he spoke about a recent conversation they shared.
“Only about a month ago Mods rang me and said he had written a song, which anyone who knows Mods, it’s the last thing you thought he would do,” he said through tears.
“He’s a different fella, he’s a great fella, he’s one of my best mates.
“He didn’t want to write a book, he just wanted to write a song. He wanted to write a song about all the people he played with, but more importantly the people he didn’t play with, and he sent it to me to have a listen to. I liked it.”
Modra played 118 games for Adelaide between 1992 and 1998, kicking 440 goals, before joining Fremantle, where he played a further 47 games and kicked another 148 goals.
Tributes and messages of support have continued to pour in from across the football community.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas described Modra as “an SA icon who has never forgotten where he came from. Down to earth and just a really good bloke”.
“Tony and his family are in our thoughts tonight, and we all hope he’ll be OK,” he said.
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir said Modra remained an important figure at the club.
“All I can say is I wish him and his family well and hopefully he can pull through,” he said.
“I’m thinking of him. We’re all thinking of him and his family and yeah, thoughts are with him.”
AFL commentator Brian Taylor said news of the crash was difficult to process.
“It’s going to be extremely difficult for us now as a commentary team to get excited about what we’re about to see here, because that is just tragic news and we hope things get better on from here on in,” he said.
Sports broadcaster Hamish McLachlan added: “There’s nothing we can say other than hopefully whoever’s in charge looks after you, Mods.”
Fox Footy’s Sarah Jones described Modra as “an icon of our game and one of our most loved figures”.
“Thoughts and prayers, certainly with Tony Modra, a legend of the game, and let’s hope he can pull through this,” she said.
“Sending every ounce of strength we have to him.”
Image: AFL Photos
