Tony Modra

Infobox afl player


firstname = Tony
lastname = Modra


| birthdate = Birth date and age|1969|3|1|df=y
birthplace =
originalteam = West Adelaide
heightweight = 188 cm / 95 kg
dead = alive
deathdate =
deathplace =
debutdate = Round 4 11 April 1992
debutteam = Adelaide Crows
debutopponent = Fitzroy Lions
debutstadium = Princes Park
playingteams = Total - 165 games 588 goals
number = 6
* Adelaide (1992-1998) 118 games 440 goals
* Fremantle (1999-2001) 47 games 148 goals
coach = notcoach
coachingteams =
statsend = 2001
careerhighlights =

* All Australian selection 1993 and 1997
* Runner-Up in the 1999 Doig Medal
* 1995 AFL Goal of the Year
* Mark of the Year winner for 1993, 1997 and 2000
* 1997 Coleman Medalist
* Adelaide Crows all time leading goal kicker
* 5 times most goals in a season for Adelaide 1993 - 1997
* Most goals in a match for Adelaide with 13 in both 1993 and 1994
* Most goals in a match for Fremantle with 10 in 1999

Anthony "Tony" Dale Modra (born 1 March 1969) is an Australian Rules Football player formerly of the AFL known for his spectacular marks. He played for the Adelaide Crows and Fremantle Dockers in the Australian Football League. One of the best and most glamorous full-forwards of the 1990s, Modra had the physical strength and size to match the best opposition full backs in the competition. He played in the number 6 guernsey for both Adelaide and Fremantle.

AFL career

After being recruited from West Adelaide Football Club in the SANFL, Modra began his AFL career later than most players 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 goal kicker at the Port Adelaide Football Club, also in the SANFL. Modra played a handful of games in his debut season of 1992, without making a great impact.

At the start of 1993, an injury to Hodges caused Modra to be put in the full forward position. Modra was an instant success, and finished the year with 129 goals.

Both the Crows and Modra had less successful seasons in 1994-1996, although Modra topped the club goalkicking each year.

In 1997, Modra won the Coleman Medal for the most goals in the AFL, and was also selected in the AFL all-Australian team. However a torn ACL knee injury sustained during a marking contest in the preliminary final caused Modra to miss the Grand Final but still celebrated the win while limping around with crutches.

After returning from the knee injury 10 months later in 1998 he failed to regain form and was not considered for the Grand Final. He was thus one of the 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. He however seemed to suffer from being in a one team town. Despite his record, some people in South Australia believed he did not play to his full ability.

Adelaide traded Modra to Fremantle for the 1999 season. By the middle of the 2001 season sore knees forced him to retire from the AFL at 32 years of age. His career games tally finished at 165 games for 588 goals.

In his post-footballing career, Modra has become a dairy farmer. He now lives in Victor Harbor. He played in recent seasons for Encounter Bay in the Great Southern Football League. Currently Modra is playing for the Keith Football Club in the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League. He also plays in charity games such as the West End Slowdown and can still take huge marks. He also plays cricket for the Encounter Bay Cricket Club.

Modra kicked 10 goals against Lucindale on 30th, June 2006. Keith won by 119pts.

In his first senior Premiership since he was 16, Modra kicked 8 goals in Keith's win over Penola in the KNTFL Grand Final played at Naracoorte on September 15, 2007. Final scores Keith 19.8 (122) defeated Penola 10.10 (70)

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External links

*AflRleague|ref=T/Tony_Modra.html