AFL icon Tony Modra has spoken for the first time since his life-threatening crash, sharing a message to fans ahead of the Showdown between his old club Adelaide and Port Adelaide. The 57-year-old is on the mend after suffering facial injuries when a fallen tree branch crashed through the windshield of a truck he was driving near his cattle property south of Adelaide last Thursday. The Crows and Fremantle great was initially in a critical condition and needed multiple surgeries. Know the news with the
7NEWS app: Download today Arrow But he has put his improvements on show in a voice recording shared by close mate Mark Ricciuto on Saturday night. Ricciuto said he had caught up with Modra during the week — “which was an awesome experience to go down to the hospital and see him”. “He didn’t look the same, he didn’t sound the same, but he had the same sense of humour,” Ricciuto said on Fox Sports. “I can’t describe with the same words how much he
said it hurt but what he did say was now I know what Dean Kemp felt like after you knocked him (out). “He did want to leave a message for everyone and here it is.” Modra thanked fans and concluded with a plea to stay safe on the roads. “G’day everybody, I’m really looking forward to watching tonight’s Showdown,” he said. “I’ve heard I’ve had a lot of support, not just Crows fans but Port fans as well, so I’d just like to thank everybody.
“Hope everyone has a great night tonight, looking forward to the friendly banter and the two teams putting on a great show for Australia. “Enjoy the game and make sure you drive home safe.” Ricciuto reiterated Modra “will make a recovery” and was in good spirits. “He just wanted to make sure I reinforce how happy he was that Sarah and Anthony, the two first responders, got there on the scene and saved his life. “He also wanted to have a big shoutout to all
the people at the Victor Harbor hospital and Flinders Private Hospital. “He said they’ve been absolutely brilliant. He said he thought he knew teamwork — until he’d seen how the doctors and nurses and staff down at he hospitals have looked after him, so a massive shoutout to them. “He’s got his wife Erica and two kids Hayley and Luke around him looking after him so he’s in good hands. So good on you Mods.” Ricciuto said he has been “a lot smilier” in recent
days knowing Modra “is going to get through like only Tony Modra can”. “It’s a great comeback,” the former Crows skipper said.
Tony Modra, Adelaide, Port Adelaide, Showdown, crash, fallen tree branch, truck windshield, Victor Harbor hospital, Flinders Private Hospital, Mark Ricciuto, Sarah and Anthony
Fallen tree branch thru a windshield??? That’s honestly terrifying. Glad he’s okay.
I don’t get how people drive around cattle properties like that and expect everything to be fine. Trees are just randomly falling now? Anyway hope he recovers.
Dean Kemp reference? Like the whole thing is a joke?? Not trying to be mean but if it hurt that bad wouldn’t he be more serious. Also “teamwork” like doctors??? idk.
Driving home safe, sure, but can we talk about how the branch was just laying there? Like was it cut back or not? This feels like one of those “obvious in hindsight” accidents. So glad first responders were there tho, that part matters.