Updated ,first published
In today’s AFL briefing:
- The VFL match review officer sent Alix Tauru’s bump on Footscray’s Stirling Phipps-Parsons straight to the tribunal, where he could cop at least a three-match ban.
- Tony Modra has undergone two operations and is out of intensive care as the Adelaide great starts the long recovery from a freak accident.
Young Saint Alix Tauru faces another lengthy suspension on a rough conduct charge in the VFL at a time St Kilda are suffering after a weekend of injury carnage to star players.
The VFL match review officer sent Tauru’s bump on Footscray’s Stirling Phipps-Parsons straight to the tribunal, where he could cop at least a three-match ban. The incident was graded as severe impact, high contact and careless conduct.
Saints star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera also received a $1000 fine on Monday for “flipping the bird” at a vocal group of Western Bulldogs fans late in the club’s 22-point defeat at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
Wanganeen-Milera will be able to comfortably afford the modest sanction, given he inked a two-year deal worth $2 million annually last August.
Tauru received a four-game sanction for a front-on bump last year, and a two-match suspension for striking in May.
Another of the 19-year-old defender’s bumps in that latter game was downgraded from a one-match ban to a fine, so he has repeatedly found trouble on field since St Kilda used the No.10 pick on him in the 2024 draft.
Tauru’s situation comes on top of key Saints pair Jack Sinclair and Tom De Koning bracing for an extended period out with injuries from the Bulldogs loss.
Scans on Monday confirmed Sinclair avoided an Achilles rupture, but suffered a high-grade right calf injury and his season may be over, while ex-Blue De Koning went to hospital on Sunday night and is dealing with two broken ribs and a punctured lung.
Sinclair is a dual All-Australian who has played 20 games or more in seven of the past eight seasons, and had not missed a match this season.
“It’s really disappointing for Jack, and we’re all behind him as he begins his recovery,” St Kilda’s football boss Lenny Hayes said.
“Jack has done a terrific job since being elevated to co-captain this season, and we know he’ll continue to provide an important leadership and support role within our group off the field throughout his recovery.
“Despite Tom initially showing no signs of internal damage, our decision to send him to hospital was taken with every precaution. Tom’s health and wellbeing remain our No.1 priority, and we will be right behind him as he navigates this challenging recovery.”
Fellow ruckman Rowan Marshall also underwent scans on his left shoulder despite playing out the match, but has been cleared of serious injury.
The Saints will reassess all three players after their bye this weekend.
St Kilda, who are a game outside the top 10 in 12th position with a 6-9 record, went down by 22 points in a match with potential finals ramifications.
These latest injuries add to a casualty ward at Moorabbin that includes another recruit, Sam Flanders (Achilles), Dougal Howard (calf) and Hunter Clark (knee).
Star spearhead Max King is fit again, but completing a conditioning block after a long-term knee injury that required several surgeries before a hamstring issue delayed his return further as he tries to build up for his first AFL game in two years.
The Saints started the season with heightened expectations after an off-season spending spree that netted them De Koning, Flanders, Liam Ryan and Jack Silvagni.
But they are one of three clubs, along with Richmond and Collingwood, without a win against a top-10 team this season.
St Kilda’s record against that level of opposition is 0-8, with a percentage south of 80, compared to six wins from seven matches against sides placed 11th or lower.
‘A long road ahead’: Modra out of intensive care
AAP
Tony Modra has undergone two operations and is out of intensive care as the Adelaide great starts the long recovery from a freak accident.
Modra’s family and his good friend, former Crows teammate Mark Ricciuto, gave updates on Monday following the truck accident last week that could have killed him.
“Over the past four days, during which Anthony has twice undergone surgery, he has made encouraging progress,” Modra’s family said in a statement.
“However, we are still working through the extent of his injuries and as a family, we are in a very challenging period. There’s a long road ahead.”
The family thanked the first responders and medical staff who had helped Modra. They also paid tribute to his son Luke, whose quick thinking helped emergency services, and daughter Hayley, who was first to the hospital.
They added Modra was “overcome with emotion and gratitude” when his children told him of the support from Crows fans during their weekend home game.
“There has been an overwhelming show of love from our friends, extended family, the AFL community across the country, and broader public,” they said.
Earlier on Monday, Ricciuto said Modra had avoided serious brain injury and was out of intensive care after surgery on his jaw, cheekbone and eye socket.
The Adelaide and Fremantle great suffered facial injuries when a falling tree branch smashed through the windshield of the truck he was driving last Thursday.
He was near his sheep and cattle farm some 90km south of Adelaide.
The 57-year-old was airlifted to Flinders Medical Centre and underwent facial surgery on Friday, before waking up on Saturday afternoon.
Ricciuto said the beloved football figure would require more surgery, but has had a “positive weekend” after being in critical condition.
“He remembered everything that happened, if you can believe that,” Ricciuto told Triple M radio.
“So no concussion, no brain injury, which is a huge positive. So great news, he’s got no brain issues; a little bit tough emotionally to get through reliving what happened.
“Yesterday, he actually came out of intensive care, which is great, but he’s got to go back in and have more surgery today.
“It’s a miracle not only that he’s alive, but that he’s at the point where he is right now. It’s been a positive weekend, it’s definitely fair to say.”
Hailed by Crows coach Matthew Nicks as “one of the best footballers to play the game”, Modra – wearing the No.6 guernsey – kicked 588 goals in 165 games for the Crows and Dockers between 1992 and 2001.
The Crows faithful paid tribute to the 57-year-old during the Adelaide Oval clash against Melbourne on Saturday, with a round of applause at the six-minute mark.
Crows assistant Murray Davis said the club remained in constant contact with the Modra family.
“It was a pretty special moment on that six-minute mark. We weren’t quite aware of it in the coach’s box, and we sort of thought, what’s all that about?” he said.
Davis praised the resilience of the club’s players, who have weathered emotional weeks following the death of captain Jordan Dawson’s older brother Jaryd in April.
“You lean on your loved ones and people around you, and it teaches you what’s important and perspective and gives people resilience,” Davis said.
“We’ve seen this club be able to really connect on that front and do that well.”
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