Updated ,first published
An emotional Matthew Nicks spoke fondly of Tony Modra’s smile and aura, while expressing how much he looks forward to the Crows family welcoming the goalkicking genius back at the club.
Speaking after Saturday’s gritty 17-point win over Melbourne, Adelaide’s coach offered his thoughts and prayers for Modra following the legendary full forward’s serious truck crash on Thursday evening.
There were initial fears for 57-year-old Modra’s life after the cattle truck he was driving crashed in regional South Australia when a tree fell across the road, leaving him with serious injuries. But Mark Ricciuto – a fellow Crows great, close friend and long-time teammate – delivered positive news during the television coverage of the game, confirming Modra had woken up after marathon facial surgery and was now in a stable condition.
“My thoughts and prayers are with Mods,” said Nicks, who, like Modra, came through SANFL club West Adelaide’s ranks before playing AFL.
“I know that he’ll fight his way through it.
“It’s tough to hear, but what we do know is we’ll be there for him and the family, no matter where this goes.
“We’re hearing positive thoughts and a lot of positive news coming back, but we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves.”
Modra, who owns a cattle farm at Waitpinga, south of Victor Harbor, was the sole occupant of the cattle truck. He had been driving along Range Road, Back Valley, about 10 kilometres west of Victor Harbor when the accident occurred, and was flown to Flinders Medical Centre in Adelaide for treatment.
Ricciuto said on Saturday that Modra, one of the most popular players of the 1990s and renowned as a prolific goalkicker and for his high-flying marks, needed surgery to repair the left side of his face.
“He is making a good recovery which is unbelievable,” Ricciuto told Kayo Sports.
“Everyone was really concerned about him for 24 to 36 hours, fearing that he might not get through, but he is showing the grit that we expect from Tony.
“He had a really long day in surgery, it was still happening late into the night last night to fix the left-hand side of his face where the branch or tree came through the inside of the truck and fixed up his jaw, cheekbone and eye socket – they had to get it all back together.
“He might not be the same perfectly good-looking Tony Modra when he recovers, but the great news is that he is going to recover and recover well.”
Ricciuto gave another update from Modra’s family on Saturday afternoon, saying he had woken up in hospital and was with family. He added that they were grateful for the outpouring of support since the news of his crash.
The club and the football world have rallied around Modra and his family, with fans paying tribute to the star forward at Adelaide Oval on Saturday, with the Crows hosting Melbourne in an AFL clash.
Crows fans broke into applause for Modra in the sixth minute of the first quarter. The man known as “Godra” wore No.6 for the club.
He played 165 AFL games, kicking 588 goals, and played 118 of those with the Crows, booting 440 goals – the second-most in club history, behind Taylor Walker – before kicking 148 goals in 47 games for Fremantle.
A large banner that read “Godra” was also unfurled.
Nicks, who idolised Modra in the 1990s, also spoke about the situation pre-game.
“He still has an unbelievable presence in this state, let alone this football club which is our family,” Nicks told Kayo Sports.
“Every game day, he still runs an area downstairs, and he’s known to [playfully] steal footballs that go down behind the goals.”
Nicks addressed his playing group in the lead-up to the clash, reinforcing the importance of family and life beyond football.
“It’s something that we don’t hide from,” he said.
“There are tough things going on in life and footy’s not No.1.
“However, when we get to the oval on game day, there’s a need as a professional athlete to put footy No.1 for 120 minutes.
“The moment we walk off, our mind goes back to family and to things like ‘Mods’ and where he’s at, at the moment, and how we can try to support him.”
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Roy Ward is a sports writer, live blogger and breaking news journalist. He’s been writing for The Age since 2010.Connect via X or email.
