View source for Tony Modra

{{short description|Australian rules footballer, born 1969}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Tony Modra
| image = {{CSS image crop|Image = 2011 State of Origin Slowdown.jpg|bSize = 600|cWidth = 200|cHeight = 300|oTop = 150|oLeft = 200|Location=centre}}
| caption = Modra being interviewed in October 2011
| fullname = Anthony Dale Modra
| nickname = Mods, Godra<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/expert-opinion/kane-cornes/eddie-betts-could-reignite-the-spirit-of-tony-modra-in-adelaide/news-story/f69aa87884a6e31d9e78c0d5ae665949|title=Eddie Betts could reignite the spirit of Tony Modra in Adelaide|first=Kane|last=Cornes|author-link=Kane Cornes|work=The Advertiser|date=22 August 2016}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1969|3|1|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[McLaren Vale, South Australia|McLaren Vale]], [[South Australia]], Australia
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| originalteam = [[West Adelaide Football Club|West Adelaide]] ([[South Australian National Football League|SANFL]])
| height = 188 cm
| weight = 95 kg
| position = [[Full-forward]]
| statsend = 2001
| years1 = 1991-1995
| club1 = West Adelaide
| games_goals1 = 34 (112)
| years2 = 1992–1998
| club2 = {{AFL Ade}}
| games_goals2 = 118 (440)
| years3 = 1999–2001
| club3 = {{AFL Fre}}
| games_goals3 = {{0}}47 (148)
| games_goalstotal = 199 (700)
| sooyears1 = 1992–1997
| sooteam1 = [[South Australia Australian rules football team|South Australia]]
| soogames_goals1 = 6 (24)
| careerhighlights = '''Club'''
* 2× [[All-Australian team]]: 1993, 1997
* [[Coleman Medal]]: 1997
* 5× [[List of Adelaide Football Club leading goalkickers|Adelaide Leading Goal Kicker]]: 1993-1997
* [[List of Fremantle Football Club leading goalkickers|Fremantle Leading Goal Kicker]]: 1999
* {{AFL Fre}} 25 since ‘95 Team
* 3× [[Australian Football League|AFL]] [[Mark of the Year]] 1993, 1997, 2000
* [[Australian Football League|AFL]] [[Goal of the Year (Australia)|Goal of the Year]]: 1995
* West Adelaide leading Goal Kicker: 1992
* [[Adelaide Football Club#"Team of the Decade"|Adelaide Team of the Decade]] – Full-Forward
* [[South Australian Football Hall of Fame]]
* [[Adelaide Football Club]] Life Member: 2008

'''Representative'''
* [[Interstate matches in Australian rules football#Australian National Football Carnival|Australian National Football Carnival]] Championship: [[Interstate matches in Australian rules football#State of Origin competition and results 1977-1999|1993]]
}}'''Anthony Dale Modra''' (born 1 March 1969) is a former [[Australian rules football]]er who represented [[Adelaide Football Club|Adelaide]] and [[Fremantle Football Club|Fremantle]] in the [[Australian Football League]] (AFL) and [[West Adelaide Football Club|West Adelaide]] in the [[South Australian National Football League]] (SANFL). Known for his [[spectacular mark]]ing ability in the [[full-forward]] position,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tony Modra career highlights - AFL | website=[[YouTube]] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0N7SsV0f-U}}</ref> Modra had the physical strength and size to match the best opposition [[Full-back (Australian rules football)|full-backs]] in the competition. As of 2023, he is the only Adelaide player to kick more than 100 goals in a season, achieving the feat in 1993 by registering 129 goals for the year.

==Early life==
{{BLP unreferenced section|date=April 2023}}
Modra was born in [[McLaren Vale, South Australia]], but grew up nearby in [[Christies Beach, South Australia]], and attended Christies Beach Primary School along with future Adelaide teammate [[Nigel Smart]]. He moved to [[Loxton, South Australia]], at age 11 with his parents (Douglas and Valerie) and four older siblings (Kerry, Kym, Rick and Joanne). Modra grew up playing multiple sports—notably Australian rules football and soccer for Loxton, both of which he loved equally—but solely played Australian rules football from age 14, which most of his friends played. Growing up, Modra supported [[Glenelg Football Club|Glenelg]] in the [[SANFL]], plus [[St Kilda Football Club|St Kilda]] and [[Richmond Football Club|Richmond]] in the VFL (prior to it merging into the AFL).

==Early career==
{{BLP sources section|date=April 2023}}
Modra first played Under-19s game for West Adelaide in 1988 but could not adjust to working and playing football in Adelaide. Modra returned home, and in 1989, as a 20-year-old, Tony kicked 76 goals for the [[Loxton Football Club]]; Loxton would end up losing the Grand Final to [[Barmera-Monash Football Club|Barmera-Monash]].

In 1990, Tony joined his brothers Rick and Kym at the [[Renmark Rovers Football Club]] in pursuit of a premiership. Modra led the team to win the 1990 [[Riverland Football League]] in a grand final replay after drawing with [[Waikerie Football Club|Waikerie]] the previous week. Modra kicked a remarkable 118 goals for the season.

In 1991, Modra attempted to move to Red Cliffs in the [[Sunraysia Football League]] and played one pre-season game for the club, kicking 13 goals on newly Sydney-drafted [[Darren Holmes (footballer)|Darren Holmes]]. However, Modra was still contracted to West Adelaide, and they would not be awarded a fee if Modra was to play in the AFL one day. Due to Red Cliffs being based interstate, this fee would not be received if Modra played there. Lawyers from Red Cliffs faced a tribunal in Adelaide, but the tribunal ruled that Modra was a contracted West Adelaide player. Reluctantly, he returned to West Adelaide for the 1991 season, playing in the losing [[1991 SANFL Grand Final]]. He did enough to earn an invite to an [[Adelaide Crows]] training session, and he managed to win selection in the squad. Modra was selected in the [[1991 AFL draft|1991 AFL Draft]] as a [[Zoning (Australian rules football)|Zone Selection]] for the Adelaide Football Club. Modra played 15 SANFL games for West Adelaide and kicked 46 goals between 1988 and 1991.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://australianfootball.com/players/player/tony%2Bmodra/12969|title=Australian Football - Tony Modra - Player Bio}}</ref>

==AFL career==
===Adelaide career (1992–1998)===
Modra began his AFL career 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 goalkicker in the SANFL with [[Port Adelaide Football Club]], having broken the record for most goals in a season in 1990 when he kicked 153. Modra played 8 games in his debut season of [[1992 AFL season|1992]], kicking 21 goals.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/T/Tony_Modra.html|title = AFL Tables - Tony Modra - Stats - Statistics}}</ref>

At the start of [[1993 AFL season|1993]], an injury to Hodges led to Modra's inclusion at full-forward with Adelaide. Modra was an instant success, kicking 10 goals in the opening round against [[Richmond Football Club|Richmond]] at [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]] and finishing the year as runner-up to [[Geelong Football Club|Geelong]]'s [[Gary Ablett Sr.]] in the [[Coleman Medal]] with 119 goals in the home-and-away season, kicking an additional 10 in 3 finals.

Both the Crows and Modra had less successful seasons in [[1994 AFL season|1994]] through to [[1996 AFL season|1996]], although Modra topped the club goalkicking each year. Also in 1994, Modra garnered controversy when he insulted a female flight attendant while on a flight from Hong Kong. Modra apologised for the incident, citing his 'nightlife' as the cause, and was given fines by both the Adelaide Crows and the AFL.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGYcrKstIoo|title=Tony Modra - Drama on Aeroplane - news report|website=[[YouTube]] }}</ref>

In [[1997 AFL season|1997]], Modra won the Coleman Medal for the most goals in the season, and he was also selected in the [[All-Australian team]]. However, a torn [[anterior cruciate ligament]] injury sustained during a marking contest in the preliminary final caused Modra to miss the Crows' first premiership win when they defeated {{AFL StK}} in the [[1997 AFL Grand Final]].

After returning from the knee injury 10 months later in [[1998 AFL season|1998]], he failed to regain form and was not considered for the [[1998 AFL Grand Final]]. He was thus one of only a 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 AFL season|2000]].

===Fremantle career (1999–2001)===
Adelaide traded Modra to [[Fremantle Football Club|Fremantle]] for the [[1999 AFL season]]. After kicking a club record 71 goals in his first year at Fremantle (only bested by [[Matthew Pavlich]] in [[2007 AFL season|2007]] by a single goal since), by the middle of the [[2001 AFL season]] sore knees forced him to retire from the AFL at 32 years of age. His AFL career finished at 165 games for 588 goals.

==Statistics==
: ''Statistics are correct to end of 2001 season''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-03-21 |title=Tony Modra |url=https://crowshistory.afc.com.au/afl-players/tony-modra |access-date=2023-10-28 |website=Adelaide Football Club |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
{{AFL player statistics legend}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|style="background:#CFECEC; width:1em"|
|Led the league for the season only
|-
|style="background:#b7e718; width:1em"|
|Led the league after finals only
|-
|style="background:#DD6E81; width:1em"|
|Led the league after season and finals
|}
{{AFL player statistics start}}
|-style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1992 AFL season|1992]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Ade}}
| 6 || 8 || 21 || 11 || 41 || 7 || 48 || 24 || 1 || 2.6 || 1.4 || 5.1 || 0.9 || 6.0 || 3.0 || 0.1
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1993 AFL season|1993]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Ade}}
| 6 || 23 || bgcolor="b7e718"| '''129''' || 61 || 240 || 41 || 281 || 163 || 8 || 5.6 || 2.7 || 10.4 || 1.8 || 12.2 || 7.1 || 0.3
|-style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1994 AFL season|1994]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Ade}}
| 6 || 19 || 70 || 39 || 146 || 31 || 177 || 85 || 3 || 3.7 || 2.1 || 7.7 || 1.6 || 9.3 || 4.5 || 0.2
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1995 AFL season|1995]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Ade}}
| 6 || 16 || 42 || 29 || 108 || 25 || 133 || 54 || 4 || 2.6 || 1.8 || 6.8 || 1.6 || 8.3 || 3.4 || 0.3
|-style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1996 AFL season|1996]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Ade}}
| 6 || 19 || 75 || 32 || 144 || 13 || 157 || 87 || 12 || 3.9 || 1.7 || 7.6 || 0.7 || 8.3 || 4.6 || 0.6
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1997 AFL season|1997]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Ade}}
| 6 || 25 || bgcolor="DD6E81"| '''84''' || 45 || 181 || 22 || 203 || 93 || 13 || bgcolor="CFECEC"| '''3.4''' || 1.8 || 7.2 || 0.9 || 8.1 || 3.7 || 0.5
|-style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1998 AFL season|1998]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Ade}}
| 6 || 8 || 19 || 8 || 46 || 13 || 59 || 26 || 3 || 2.4 || 1.0 || 5.8 || 1.6 || 7.4 || 3.3 || 0.4
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1999 AFL season|1999]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Fre}}
| 6 || 20 || 71 || 43 || 166 || 17 || 183 || 81 || 7 || 3.6 || 2.2 || 8.3 || 0.9 || 9.2 || 4.1 || 0.4
|-style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2000 AFL season|2000]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Fre}}
| 6 || 16 || 50 || 25 || 109 || 19 || 128 || 62 || 3 || 3.1 || 1.6 || 6.8 || 1.2 || 8.0 || 3.9 || 0.2
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2001 AFL season|2001]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Fre}}
| 6 || 11 || 27 || 15 || 61 || 18 || 79 || 35 || 8 || 2.5 || 1.4 || 5.5 || 1.6 || 7.2 || 3.2 || 0.7
|- class="sortbottom"
! colspan=3| Career
! 165
! 588
! 308
! 1242
! 206
! 1448
! 710
! 62
! 3.6
! 1.9
! 7.5
! 1.2
! 8.8
! 4.3
! 0.4
|}

==Post-AFL career==
Since 2003, Modra has worked as a cattle farmer on his property at [[Waitpinga, South Australia|Waitpinga]], near [[Victor Harbor, South Australia|Victor Harbor]], with his family, wife Erica and two children, Hayley May and Luke.<ref name="modracomeback" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.triplem.com.au/adelaide/shows/rush-hour-adelaide/news/blog/tony-modra-in-rush-hour-hall-of-fame/20120510-gahs.html |title=Triple M Interview with Tony Modra the Rush Hour Hall of Fame &#124; Triple M &#124; Rush Hour &#124; |access-date=24 May 2012 |archive-date=17 September 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120917103355/http://www.triplem.com.au/adelaide/shows/rush-hour-adelaide/news/blog/tony-modra-in-rush-hour-hall-of-fame/20120510-gahs.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Port Pirie Recorder">{{cite web |date=7 January 2021 |title=Tony Modra and his family received a private tour of the Bluff Lookout near Wirrabara and Port Pirie |url=https://www.portpirierecorder.com.au/story/7078177/modra-still-flying-high/ |access-date=24 March 2022 |website=Port Piere Recorder}}</ref> He resumed playing local football for [[Encounter Bay Football Club|Encounter Bay]] in the [[Great Southern Football League (South Australia)|Great Southern Football League]], where he is still affiliated. In 2021, Modra was named in the Team of the Century for Encounter Bay.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Encounter Bay Football Club - EBFC Team of the Century : Announced 24th April 2021 Standing at Back : Peter Millard (VC) representing himself and his father Ian Millard*, Barry Clark representing Noel Clark*,James West, Tony Proud, Lyndon Elsworthy, Alan Field, Greg Brand, David Shegog, Chris Hercock representing Marty Fraser. Standing Middle: Don Tugwell representing Doug Tugwell* (Coach), Steven Hann, Tony Modra, David Joy representing Frank Joy*, Trevor Prior, John Roads representing Jack Roads snr*, Dick Littlely representing Craig Littlely Seated front: John Pearson representing David Pearson *, Alan Swain representing Bob Beecroft, Don Bartel ( Captain), Ann Renfrey representing Bert Hutton* Present but missing photo : Peter Johnson, Tyson Davis Neale (VC), John Masters representing Reg Masters * Absent : Andrew McLean, Rigby Barnes. Congratulations to all on being recognised for your contribution to the EBFC {{!}} Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/EncounterBayFC/photos/a.440751472461/10158392885782462/ |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en}}</ref> Modra also played for the Prince Alfred Old Collegians Football Club alongside old teammate [[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 was still taking huge marks as recently as October 2015 at the age of 46; he produced an amazing mark, gaining significant media attention.<ref>{{Citation |title=Modra takes a hanger in 'Slowdown' |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkwanwGXpMs |access-date=2023-04-13 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mooney |first=James |date=2015-10-06 |title=Tony Modra takes massive mark in charity match |url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/tony-modra-takes-massive-mark-in-slowdown-20151006-gk29e9.html |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=The Age |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-10-06 |title=Video: Modra winds back clock with hanger |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/adelaide-crows/video-tony-modra-takes-screamer-mark-in-adelaide-v-port-adelaide-slowdown-2015-ng-cb1286e09a4605699db487edbe43cd1c |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=PerthNow |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Video: Tony Modra takes screamer mark in Adelaide v Port Adelaide Slowdown 2015 |url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/adelaide-crows/video-tony-modra-takes-screamer-mark-in-adelaide-v-port-adelaide-slowdown-2015/news-story/cb1286e09a4605699db487edbe43cd1c }}</ref> 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.{{Citation needed|date=May 2012}}

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 were Keith 19.8 (122) def. Penola 10.10 (70).{{Citation needed|date=May 2012}}

In May 2011, it was reported that Modra was considering a return to the AFL as a coach with Adelaide.<ref name="modracomeback">{{cite web| url = http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/crows-legend-tony-modra-considers-coaching-comeback-to-club/story-e6frecj3-1226064830072| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110530233552/http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/crows-legend-tony-modra-considers-coaching-comeback-to-club/story-e6frecj3-1226064830072| archive-date = 2011-05-30| title = Crows legend Tony Modra considers coaching comeback to club {{!}} Adelaide Now}}</ref>

On 3 October 2011, Modra—along with other former AFL and SANFL stars such as [[Andrew Jarman|Andrew]] and [[Darren Jarman]], [[Gavin Wanganeen]], [[Mark Ricciuto]], [[Ben Hart (Australian footballer)|Ben Hart]], [[Mick Martyn (Australian footballer)|Mick Martyn]], [[Brendan Fevola]], [[Matthew Lloyd]] and [[Dermott Brereton]]—played in the State of Origin Slowdown match at the [[Adelaide Oval]] between [[South Australian state football team|South Australia]] and [[Victoria Australian rules football team|Victoria]]. The match was played for charity for the [[Little Heroes Foundation]] and saw South Australia winners 17.10 (112) to Victoria's 17.9 (111) courtesy of a goal 20 seconds from the final siren by Darren Jarman.

In late 2021, Modra made the move to Queensland, where he linked up with his old Fitness Coach Karli Owen, who ran him through a rigorous six-month program that allowed him to return to South Australia and take up a role within the Glenelg Masters. He attributed his breakout season to Karli and her strict training regime for his return to his former glory.<ref name="showdown">{{Cite web |url=http://www.triplem.com.au/melbourne/sport/afl/news/2015/10/modra-takes-a-hanger-in-the-slowdown/ |title=Tony Modra Takes a Hanger in the Slowdown |access-date=6 October 2015 |archive-date=6 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006174232/http://www.triplem.com.au/melbourne/sport/afl/news/2015/10/modra-takes-a-hanger-in-the-slowdown/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{AFL Tables|ref=T/Tony_Modra.html}}

{{AFL Coleman Medallists}}
{{Fos Williams Medal winners}}
{{Adelaide leading goalkickers}}
{{Fremantle leading goalkickers}}
{{Alex Jesaulenko Medal}}
{{1993 All-Australian team}}
{{1997 All-Australian team}}
{{navboxes
| title = Tony Modra in South Australian State of Origin teams
| titlestyle = background:red; color:gold; border: solid blue 2px;
| list1 ={{1992 South Australia State of Origin players}}
{{1993 South Australia State of Origin players}}
{{1994 South Australia State of Origin players}}
{{1996 South Australia State of Origin players}}
{{1997 South Australia State of Origin players}}
}}
{{Southern Football League Greatest Exports Team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Modra, Tony}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Coleman Medal winners]]
[[Category:Adelaide Football Club players]]
[[Category:West Adelaide Football Club players]]
[[Category:Fremantle Football Club players]]
[[Category:South Australian State of Origin players]]
[[Category:All-Australians (AFL)]]
[[Category:Australian rules footballers from Adelaide]]
[[Category:South Australian Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Christies Beach Football Club players]]