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For my 500th post I thought I would write something worthwhile and with the announcement of Tony Modra’s retirement today, I thought I would pay tribute to the man who provided so much enjoyment to Adelaide and Fremantle fans throughout his exciting, glamorous and often controversial career.
Tony Modra came down from the Riverland at the behest of West Adelaide stalwart Doug Thomas to play for Westies at a time young Tony was more interested in playing footy with his brothers in the country and drinking a few beers.
But he managed to get his game on track and was selected in the Crows initial AFL squad.
My first memory of Tony was in the bloodbath 1991 SANFL grand final when West Adelaide played North Adelaide. Westies were creamed and Tony got on the highlights tape when he took a screamer in the goal square, but played on and the kick for goal hit the behind post from two metres out straight in front. Some of you may have seen this on Almost Footy Legends at some stage. (Also reminiscent of a similar effort against the Kangaroos some years later).
Tony’s career would go up from here however as he cemented himself in the Adelaide line up in late 1992 and went on to kick over 100 goals in the 1993 season when the Crows lost the Prelim final to Essendon.
By this stage Tony had a reputation for having the best leap in the competition and staking a swag of gravity defying leaps. Marks against North Melbourne, Collingwood and Brisbane being especially memorable.
After 93 however his career went off the rails to an extent and many stories were going around Adelaide about drunken exploits and misbehavior. In one famous incident on Rex Hunt’s Footy Panel he let the “f” word go in what was an amusing but embarrassing incident for the club.
The Highlights were many though. I remember a game against Fitzroy when the Crows were down by 24 points going into time on in the third quarter, and Mods took three fantastic marks and kicked 3 goals to get the Crows back into a game they would eventually win by 1 point. The crowd at the Park were absolutely ecstatic that night and at three quarter time there were three Mexican waves going around the stadium at the same time. One of the best atmospheres ever at Football Park and all because of the brilliance of one T Modra.
A further screamer against Richmond in Robert Walls last coaching game was also a highlight when the Crows went on to win by 130 points plus.
Tony went on to play 118 games for Adelaide and kick over 400 goals including a Football Park record of 13 against Carlton in Round 1 1995.
The turning point in his career came in the 1997 Preliminary Final (the year he won the Coleman Medal and All-Australian Selection) when he went down with a knee injury which would see him miss nearly 12 months of Football. To hear the Bulldogs supporters clap and cheer when he got carried off on a stretcher that day was an absolute disgrace. The Adelaide Footy Club would have the last laugh however as we all know.
Mods came back late in 1998 but struggled to rekindle the old magic. Malcolm Blight lost patience with him after the Crows were thrashed by Melbourne in a final at the MCG which was his last game for the Crows, which saw D Jarman go back to the goal square for the rest of the final series and the Crows win back to back Premierships.
Cruelly, Tony had now missed out on both of Adelaide’s Premierships which was tragic for a man who had provided most of the excitement for Crows fans during the dim dark years of 1994 to 1996 when the club looked to be going nowhere fast.
Blight did not want Tony Modra any more and therefore the club traded him to Fremantle for very little in return so that he had a chance to continue his career at a club which was crying out for a forward and a star player to give the membership numbers a boost. Many Adelaide fans followed Tony to support Fremantle which is an indication of how much he was loved.
Many Adelaide fans were upset at Tony’s departure and many were angry the club got so little in return (2 late draft picks), however in hindsight I think most now realise that the club did Tony a favour as no other clubs were interested in his services.
Tony has since played 47 games for Fremantle and kicked 148 goals for a career tally of 165 games for 588 goals.
Tony’s manager has stated that he decided to retire on Sunday because of injury and then decided to celebrate in style. Some are saying that he is retiring because of the alleged incident on Sunday and the FFC’s intention to punish him for it.
In any case, it matters little, as Tony Modra should not be remembered for the controversy but for the delight and entertainment he provided for Footy Fans Australia wide.
In the 1994 State of Origin Game there was Gary Ablett at one end and Tony Modra at the other, both putting on brilliant displays and showing the game in its very best light.
Tony took some great marks in his career which will be remembered by all those who saw them forever, not to mention the amazing number of goals he kicked off the ground from almost impossible situations.
Good on you Tony and may you have a happy and health retirement.
On behalf of all Crows and Fremantle fans at least (and a lot others I am sure) – I say thanks for the memories!!
Footnote:
Player honors: 2nd Fremantle best and fairest 1999; 3rd Adelaide best and fairest 1993; Fos Williams Medal 1996; All-Australian 1993, 1997; Coleman Medal 1997; Fremantle leading goalkicker 1999; Adelaide leading goalkicker 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997.
Brownlow Medal: 2000 votes (2); career votes (26).
Tony Modra came down from the Riverland at the behest of West Adelaide stalwart Doug Thomas to play for Westies at a time young Tony was more interested in playing footy with his brothers in the country and drinking a few beers.
But he managed to get his game on track and was selected in the Crows initial AFL squad.
My first memory of Tony was in the bloodbath 1991 SANFL grand final when West Adelaide played North Adelaide. Westies were creamed and Tony got on the highlights tape when he took a screamer in the goal square, but played on and the kick for goal hit the behind post from two metres out straight in front. Some of you may have seen this on Almost Footy Legends at some stage. (Also reminiscent of a similar effort against the Kangaroos some years later).
Tony’s career would go up from here however as he cemented himself in the Adelaide line up in late 1992 and went on to kick over 100 goals in the 1993 season when the Crows lost the Prelim final to Essendon.
By this stage Tony had a reputation for having the best leap in the competition and staking a swag of gravity defying leaps. Marks against North Melbourne, Collingwood and Brisbane being especially memorable.
After 93 however his career went off the rails to an extent and many stories were going around Adelaide about drunken exploits and misbehavior. In one famous incident on Rex Hunt’s Footy Panel he let the “f” word go in what was an amusing but embarrassing incident for the club.
The Highlights were many though. I remember a game against Fitzroy when the Crows were down by 24 points going into time on in the third quarter, and Mods took three fantastic marks and kicked 3 goals to get the Crows back into a game they would eventually win by 1 point. The crowd at the Park were absolutely ecstatic that night and at three quarter time there were three Mexican waves going around the stadium at the same time. One of the best atmospheres ever at Football Park and all because of the brilliance of one T Modra.
A further screamer against Richmond in Robert Walls last coaching game was also a highlight when the Crows went on to win by 130 points plus.
Tony went on to play 118 games for Adelaide and kick over 400 goals including a Football Park record of 13 against Carlton in Round 1 1995.
The turning point in his career came in the 1997 Preliminary Final (the year he won the Coleman Medal and All-Australian Selection) when he went down with a knee injury which would see him miss nearly 12 months of Football. To hear the Bulldogs supporters clap and cheer when he got carried off on a stretcher that day was an absolute disgrace. The Adelaide Footy Club would have the last laugh however as we all know.
Mods came back late in 1998 but struggled to rekindle the old magic. Malcolm Blight lost patience with him after the Crows were thrashed by Melbourne in a final at the MCG which was his last game for the Crows, which saw D Jarman go back to the goal square for the rest of the final series and the Crows win back to back Premierships.
Cruelly, Tony had now missed out on both of Adelaide’s Premierships which was tragic for a man who had provided most of the excitement for Crows fans during the dim dark years of 1994 to 1996 when the club looked to be going nowhere fast.
Blight did not want Tony Modra any more and therefore the club traded him to Fremantle for very little in return so that he had a chance to continue his career at a club which was crying out for a forward and a star player to give the membership numbers a boost. Many Adelaide fans followed Tony to support Fremantle which is an indication of how much he was loved.
Many Adelaide fans were upset at Tony’s departure and many were angry the club got so little in return (2 late draft picks), however in hindsight I think most now realise that the club did Tony a favour as no other clubs were interested in his services.
Tony has since played 47 games for Fremantle and kicked 148 goals for a career tally of 165 games for 588 goals.
Tony’s manager has stated that he decided to retire on Sunday because of injury and then decided to celebrate in style. Some are saying that he is retiring because of the alleged incident on Sunday and the FFC’s intention to punish him for it.
In any case, it matters little, as Tony Modra should not be remembered for the controversy but for the delight and entertainment he provided for Footy Fans Australia wide.
In the 1994 State of Origin Game there was Gary Ablett at one end and Tony Modra at the other, both putting on brilliant displays and showing the game in its very best light.
Tony took some great marks in his career which will be remembered by all those who saw them forever, not to mention the amazing number of goals he kicked off the ground from almost impossible situations.
Good on you Tony and may you have a happy and health retirement.
On behalf of all Crows and Fremantle fans at least (and a lot others I am sure) – I say thanks for the memories!!
Footnote:
Player honors: 2nd Fremantle best and fairest 1999; 3rd Adelaide best and fairest 1993; Fos Williams Medal 1996; All-Australian 1993, 1997; Coleman Medal 1997; Fremantle leading goalkicker 1999; Adelaide leading goalkicker 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997.
Brownlow Medal: 2000 votes (2); career votes (26).
