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Anthony Dale Modra (born 1 March 1969) is a former Australian rules footballer who represented Adelaide and Fremantle in the Australian Football League (AFL) and West Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). Known for his spectacular marking ability in the full-forward position,[2] Modra had the physical strength and size to match the best opposition 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.

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

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 in the SANFL, plus St Kilda and Richmond in the VFL (prior to it merging into the AFL).

Early career

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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.

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 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. 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 as a Zone Selection for the Adelaide Football Club. Modra played 15 SANFL games for West Adelaide and kicked 46 goals between 1988 and 1991.[3]

AFL career

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Adelaide career (1992–1998)

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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, kicking 21 goals.[4]

At the start of 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 at Melbourne Cricket Ground and finishing the year as runner-up to 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 through to 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.[5]

In 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 St Kilda in the 1997 AFL Grand Final.

After returning from the knee injury 10 months later in 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.

Fremantle career (1999–2001)

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Adelaide traded Modra to 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 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

[edit]
Statistics are correct to end of 2001 season[6][4]
Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Led the league for the season only
Led the league after finals only
Led the league after season and finals
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
1992 Adelaide 6 8 21 11 41 7 48 24 1 2.6 1.4 5.1 0.9 6.0 3.0 0.1
1993 Adelaide 6 23 129 61 240 41 281 163 8 5.6 2.7 10.4 1.8 12.2 7.1 0.3
1994 Adelaide 6 19 70 39 146 31 177 85 3 3.7 2.1 7.7 1.6 9.3 4.5 0.2
1995 Adelaide 6 16 42 29 108 25 133 54 4 2.6 1.8 6.8 1.6 8.3 3.4 0.3
1996 Adelaide 6 19 75 32 144 13 157 87 12 3.9 1.7 7.6 0.7 8.3 4.6 0.6
1997 Adelaide 6 25 84 45 181 22 203 93 13 3.4 1.8 7.2 0.9 8.1 3.7 0.5
1998 Adelaide 6 8 19 8 46 13 59 26 3 2.4 1.0 5.8 1.6 7.4 3.3 0.4
1999 Fremantle 6 20 71 43 166 17 183 81 7 3.6 2.2 8.3 0.9 9.2 4.1 0.4
2000 Fremantle 6 16 50 25 109 19 128 62 3 3.1 1.6 6.8 1.2 8.0 3.9 0.2
2001 Fremantle 6 11 27 15 61 18 79 35 8 2.5 1.4 5.5 1.6 7.2 3.2 0.7
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

[edit]

Since 2003, Modra has worked as a cattle farmer on his property at Waitpinga, near Victor Harbor, with his family, wife Erica and two children, Hayley May and Luke.[7][8][9] He resumed playing local football for Encounter Bay in the Great Southern Football League, where he is still affiliated. In 2021, Modra was named in the Team of the Century for Encounter Bay.[10] 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.[11][12][13][14] 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]

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]

In May 2011, it was reported that Modra was considering a return to the AFL as a coach with Adelaide.[7]

On 3 October 2011, Modra—along with other former AFL and SANFL stars such as Andrew and Darren Jarman, Gavin Wanganeen, Mark Ricciuto, Ben Hart, Mick Martyn, Brendan Fevola, Matthew Lloyd and Dermott Brereton—played in the State of Origin Slowdown match at the Adelaide Oval between South Australia and 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.[15]

References

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Tony Modra

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from Grokipedia
Anthony Dale Modra (born 1 March 1969) is a retired Australian rules footballer who played as a high-flying full-forward for the Adelaide Football Club and Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Renowned for his spectacular marking and goal-kicking ability, Modra kicked 588 career goals across 165 games, earning two All-Australian selections in 1993 and 1997, the Coleman Medal as the league's leading goalkicker in the 1997 home-and-away season with 81 goals, and three AFL Mark of the Year awards in 1993, 1997, and 2000. He also won the AFL Goal of the Year in 1995 for a stunning boundary-line effort against Richmond. Modra's career began in South Australian country football with Renmark before progressing to the SANFL with West Adelaide, where he played 34 games and kicked 112 goals from 1988 to 1992, including a leading goalkicker award in 1992. Recruited by as a zone selection ahead of the 1992 season, he debuted in round 1 of 1992 and exploded in his first full season of 1993, booting 129 goals—the 11th-highest single-season tally in VFL/AFL history—and becoming the first Crow to reach 100 goals in a season. That year, he also claimed his first with a towering grab over at . Modra led 's goalkicking five straight times from 1993 to 1997, setting club records for fastest to 100 goals (22 games) and 200 goals (42 games), though a severe injury in the 1997 preliminary final sidelined him for the Crows' maiden premiership win over St Kilda. After a partial recovery in late 1998, where he was overlooked for Adelaide's second consecutive despite the team's victory, Modra was traded to ahead of the 1999 season. There, he revived his , leading the Dockers' goalkicking with 71 goals in 1999—including a club-record 10 against —and adding his third in 2000 against . Persistent knee issues limited him to 47 games and 148 goals over three seasons, forcing his retirement at age 32 midway through 2001. Post-AFL, Modra returned to South Australian community football, winning premierships with Keith in 2007 and playing for Prince Alfred Old Collegians in 2009, while earning inductions into the Hall of Fame in 2015 and the SANFL Hall of Fame in 2014.

Early years

Childhood and family background

Tony Modra was born on 1 March 1969 in McLaren Vale, South Australia. He spent his early childhood in Christies Beach, a southern suburb of Adelaide, where he attended local primary school and developed an interest in various physical activities, including playing soccer as a striker and high jumping during his school years. Modra's family relocated to Loxton in South Australia's region after his father took on the role of manager at the local caravan park, a position he held for three years; this move exposed the family to rural life along the , influencing their lifestyle with opportunities for outdoor pursuits like bike riding and jumps. His parents provided a supportive environment during these transitions, while his older brothers, Kym and Rick, shared in family activities that fostered a close-knit dynamic in both urban and rural settings.

Introduction to Australian rules football

Tony Modra's introduction to came during his youth in , following an initial focus on other sports. Growing up in Christies Beach south of , Modra played soccer as a striker at school before his family relocated to the region, where he settled in Loxton and began pursuing around his early teenage years. His first organized experience with the sport occurred through junior ranks in local South Australian leagues, where he joined West Adelaide's youth teams. There, Modra developed his skills as a forward, drawing on his natural athleticism honed from high jumping in high school, which contributed to his emerging for spectacular leaps. Standing at 188 cm, his height and speed were already notable assets in junior competitions, setting the foundation for his later marking prowess. As a young fan, Modra admired St Kilda's and followed prominent goalkickers like , Gary Ablett, and via television highlights, fostering his passion for the game. Supported by his family, who encouraged his sporting interests during the move to the , Modra transitioned from multi-sport participation—including soccer and athletics—to concentrating on by his late teens, prioritizing it over other pursuits.

Pre-AFL career

SANFL tenure with West Adelaide

Modra joined West Adelaide in the (SANFL) in 1988 after progressing through junior football ranks. Reluctant to relocate from his regional roots in the , he made his senior debut that year but struggled to adapt to life in , playing a limited number of games across 1988 and 1989 before returning to country football. He recommitted to West Adelaide ahead of the 1991 season, delivering a breakout performance that highlighted his explosive marking and goal-kicking prowess. Modra played a key role in the team's strong campaign, which culminated in a appearance as runners-up against North Adelaide, where he showed glimpses of his AFL potential despite a tough matchup. His form that year drew significant attention from emerging AFL clubs. Over his intermittent SANFL stints with West Adelaide from 1988–1989, –1992, Modra appeared in 34 games and booted 112 goals, including serving as the club's leading goalkicker in 1992, establishing himself as a leading forward for the club. These performances, particularly in , positioned him as a prime local talent, resulting in his selection by the Adelaide Crows as a zone pick (No. 39 overall) in the 1991 AFL Draft.

Performances in regional leagues

In 1989, at the age of 20, Tony Modra returned to his roots in the region of and played for the Loxton Football Club in the Riverland Football League, where he kicked 76 goals over the season, demonstrating his emerging talent as a forward. His contributions helped Loxton reach the grand final, though the team ultimately fell short against Barmera. These performances marked a pivotal step in Modra's development outside the major leagues, highlighting his ability to dominate in a competitive rural setting. The following year, Modra joined the Renmark Rovers Football Club in the same league, reuniting with his brothers Kym and Rick, and elevated his game to new heights by booting 118 goals while leading the team to a premiership victory. This prolific output not only showcased his goal-scoring prowess but also cemented his status as a key player in regional football, with the Rovers securing the flag under his influence. Modra's exploits in these underreported rural competitions greatly boosted his reputation across South Australian football circles, convincing him to overcome his reluctance toward city-based play and return to the SANFL with West Adelaide in 1991. The aerial skills and finishing ability he refined in the leagues provided a strong foundation for his subsequent success in semi-professional and elite levels.

AFL career

Adelaide Crows era (1992–1998)

Tony Modra joined the Crows in 1992 at the age of 23, transitioning from a successful stint in the (SANFL) with West Adelaide, where he had honed his goal-kicking prowess. In his debut AFL season, he played eight games and booted 21 goals, showing early promise as a key forward for the expansion club. Modra's breakthrough came in 1993, when he exploded onto the scene with a remarkable 129 goals in 23 games, establishing a club record for the most goals in a single season that remains unbroken as of 2025. This haul included a standout 13.4 performance against Richmond in Round 16 and earned him his first All-Australian selection, cementing his status as one of the league's most exciting players. The following year, 1994, Modra managed 70 goals in 19 games despite navigating the pressures of newfound fame and off-field scrutiny, including incidents that tested his discipline. He continued as ' leading goalkicker in 1995 (42 goals in 16 games) and 1996 (75 goals in 19 games), providing consistent scoring threat during the team's building phase. In 1997, Modra elevated his game further, kicking 81 goals in the home-and-away season in 22 matches to win the as the AFL's leading goalkicker (with a total of 84 goals in 25 matches including finals) and secure his second All-Australian honor. His contributions were pivotal to Adelaide's strong campaign, finishing fourth on the ladder before storming to the club's maiden premiership; however, a injury sustained in the Preliminary Final sidelined him for the Grand Final victory over St Kilda. Returning late in 1998 after recovery, Modra featured in eight games for 19 goals, but ongoing injury limitations and a positional shift to defense in the Qualifying Final led to his exclusion from the Grand Final squad despite the Crows' successful title defense. At season's end, amid tensions over his contract and future role, Modra was delisted and subsequently traded to in a controversial move that ended his tenure after 118 games and 440 goals.

Fremantle Dockers stint (1999–2001)

Prior to the 1999 AFL season, Tony Modra was traded from to in exchange for draft picks 29 and 34, a move stemming from tensions with coach following Modra's post-injury form struggles and a heated fallout after being dropped and demoted to the SANFL in 1998. Adapting quickly to the Dockers, Modra showcased his aerial prowess and goal-kicking instinct, booting a club-record 71 goals in his debut year, including a standout 10-goal haul against in round 10. In 2000, Modra maintained strong output with 50 goals across the season, contributing to Fremantle's improving campaign while forming a potent forward line partnership with teammates like . However, the physical toll of his high-flying style began to surface, limiting his involvement in 2001 to 11 games where he still managed 27 goals, bringing his Fremantle tally to 148 majors in 47 appearances. At age 32, Modra announced his retirement at the conclusion of the 2001 season, citing cumulative knee damage from years of intense marking contests and prior reconstructions—particularly the severe 1997 injury—as the primary factor rendering him unable to continue at AFL level.

Playing style and impact

Signature marking and goal-kicking abilities

Tony Modra, standing at 188 cm and weighing 95 kg, possessed a powerful and athletic build that was instrumental in his dominance as a full-forward, particularly in contested aerial situations. This physical profile allowed him to outmuscle and outjump opponents, enabling spectacular high marks that became a hallmark of his playing style. In 1993, Modra claimed the AFL Mark of the Year for a towering grab over 's Ian Fairley at , showcasing his ability to elevate above the pack for contested possessions near goal. He repeated this feat in 1997 with another breathtaking mark over Mick Martyn of , hanging in the air before clutching the ball just short of the goal line, further cementing his reputation for gravity-defying leaps. These moments exemplified how Modra's combination of height, strength, and timing turned routine leads into highlight-reel plays, often leaving defenders trailing in his wake. Modra's goal-kicking was characterized by a blend of high volume and impressive accuracy, driven by his explosive leads and reliable set-shot technique. He frequently capitalized on his marking prowess to position himself for goals from difficult angles and distances, converting opportunities with a smooth, pendulum-like action that minimized misses under pressure. A prime example came in the 1993 season opener against Richmond at the , where he booted 10 goals and 3 behinds, including his tenth from a mark in the final minutes, demonstrating his capacity to dominate games through sheer scoring output. This performance, where he outpaced defenders by several strides on leads, highlighted his speed off the mark—estimated by commentators at beating opponents by 4-5 paces over 50 meters—which created space for precise finishes. Under the guidance of coach , who emphasized refining Modra's leading patterns during training sessions, this technique evolved into a consistent threat, allowing him to rack up multiple bags of five or more goals in key matches. Modra earned widespread acclaim as one of the AFL's premier forwards of the , often compared to contemporaries like for his explosive athleticism and goal-scoring flair, with analysts noting similarities in their ability to turn aerial contests into scoring chances. He was also likened to for his show-stopping marks and charismatic presence, though Modra's style stood out for its raw power and consistency in high-stakes environments. Blight's coaching philosophy, which encouraged Modra to leverage film study for anticipating defensive movements, further sharpened this explosive play, transforming him into a forward who could single-handedly swing games through individual brilliance.

Injuries and their influence on career trajectory

Modra's career was significantly hampered by recurring injuries, beginning with a partial (ACL) tear in 1995 during a match against , where he damaged three-quarters of the ligament but was able to continue playing for several more years due to the remaining intact portion. The most devastating injury occurred in the first quarter of the 1997 AFL Preliminary Final against the , when Modra suffered a full ACL rupture in his left after landing awkwardly from a marking contest; he was stretchered off the field and underwent shortly thereafter. This injury sidelined him for the Adelaide Crows' premiership-winning victory over St Kilda, despite Modra having led the league with 81 goals in the home-and-away season and earning the . Following a 10-month rehabilitation period that included intensive recovery efforts, Modra returned in 1998 but struggled to recapture his pre-injury explosiveness, managing only 8 games for the season as ongoing soreness persisted. He was not selected for ' second consecutive , further compounding the emotional and professional toll of his injuries. Traded to ahead of the 1999 season, Modra initially thrived with 71 goals in his debut year there, but cumulative problems from the prior reconstructions limited his consistency and availability over the next two seasons, restricting him to just 47 games total with the Dockers. The persistent knee issues ultimately shortened Modra's peak performance window and prompted his early at age 32 midway through the 2001 season, as chronic soreness rendered him unable to withstand the physical demands of elite-level play. These injuries, exacerbated by his high-flying playing style that involved frequent contested marks, transformed a potential Hall of Fame trajectory into one marked by unfulfilled promise, despite his status as Adelaide's all-time leading goalkicker with 440 goals in 118 games for the club.

Achievements and honors

Individual awards and team contributions

Tony Modra's individual accolades highlight his prowess as a high-flying forward in the Australian Football League (AFL). In 1997, he won the as the league's leading goalkicker during the home-and-away season, a testament to his consistent scoring ability for the Crows. That same year, Modra earned selection in the , recognizing him among the elite performers across the competition. He was also selected in the in 1993. His spectacular aerial skills were further honored with three Mark of the Year awards—in 1993 and 1997 while with , and in 2000 during his time at —showcasing marks that became iconic highlights of his career. Additionally, he won the AFL Goal of the Year in 1995 for a remarkable boundary-line goal against Richmond. Modra also received state-level recognition for his contributions to South Australian football. In 1996, he was awarded the Fos Williams Medal as the best player on the ground in a match against , where he starred for the Croweaters. He was inducted into the SANFL Hall of Fame in 2014. His excellence extended to club honors, including induction into the Hall of Fame in 2015, acknowledging his impact as a dual All-Australian and the Crows' all-time leading goalkicker at the time of his departure. In 2021, Modra was named full forward in Encounter Bay Football Club's , celebrating his post-AFL involvement with the regional club where he began his junior career. As a key forward, Modra played a pivotal role in the Adelaide Crows' successful finals campaigns of 1997 and 1998. In 1997, his goal-kicking prowess powered the team through the early finals stages, contributing significantly to their path to the grand final, though a knee injury in the preliminary final sidelined him for the premiership victory. Returning in 1998 after rehabilitation, Modra remained an important part of the Crows' forward line during their title defense, helping secure another premiership despite not featuring in the grand final decider due to form challenges.

Records and lasting legacy

Tony Modra holds the distinction of being Adelaide's all-time leading goal-kicker with 440 goals in 118 games from 1992 to 1998, a record that stood for nearly three decades until it was surpassed by Taylor Walker in 2020. This achievement underscored Modra's explosive scoring prowess during the ' formative AFL years, establishing him as the club's inaugural superstar forward. In 1993, Modra became the only Adelaide player to ever kick more than 100 goals in a single season, amassing 129 goals for the season (119 in the home-and-away matches) and finishing runner-up in the to Gary Ablett (124 goals). This milestone not only highlighted his individual dominance but also marked a rare feat in AFL history, as he joined just two other players that year in reaching the century. Modra's legacy endures as an inspiration for generations of high-marking forwards, renowned for his spectacular aerial contests and three AFL awards, which exemplified the athleticism of play. As a of the era, he captivated South Australian audiences and boosted the Adelaide Football Club's early popularity, often credited with drawing crowds through his fearless style. In recent years, Modra's contributions continue to be celebrated, with tributes in 2025 including fan acknowledgments of his iconic marks and interviews reflecting on his role in ' heritage ahead of the AFL finals. Walker's surpassing of the goals record in prompted widespread recognition of Modra's foundational impact on the club's forward line traditions.

Career statistics

Season-by-season AFL performance

Tony Modra's AFL career from 1992 to 2001 featured prolific goal-kicking, particularly in his early seasons with the , where he established several club benchmarks. The following table details his season-by-season statistics, including games played, goals, behinds, disposals, and marks, sourced from official AFL records.
YearTeamGamesGoalsBehindsDisposalsMarks
1992821114824
19932312961281163
199419703917785
199516422913354
199619753215787
199725844520393
199881985926
199920714318381
200016502512862
20011127157935
Modra's goal-per-game rate peaked at 5.61 in 1993, during which he kicked 129 goals in 23 games, a performance that made him the only player to surpass 100 goals in a season—a distinction that held as of 2023. In 1999 with , he scored 71 goals, including a single-game club record of 10 against , which remained the highest individual haul for the Dockers as of 2023. His overall trends showed consistent marking and disposal involvement, averaging over 7 marks per game in his breakout 1993 season.

Overall career totals and highlights

Tony Modra concluded his (AFL) career with 165 games and 588 goals, establishing himself as a prolific full-forward across two clubs. His scoring prowess was evident from the outset, highlighted by his entry into the elite 500-goal club during his tenure. At , Modra played 118 games and kicked 440 goals from 1992 to 1998, a club record that stood until Taylor Walker surpassed it in 2020 and extended to 680 goals by 2025. With from 1999 to 2001, he added 47 games and 148 goals, leading the Dockers' goalkicking in his debut season there. Including his pre-AFL time in the (SANFL) with West Adelaide, Modra's combined career totals reached 199 games and 700 goals, spanning 34 SANFL appearances for 112 goals alongside his AFL output. Key milestones underscore his rapid ascent and impact: Modra became the first player to reach 100 goals in a single season in 1993, achieving the feat in just 19 games against Fitzroy, a mark that remains unique for the club as of 2025.

Personal life and post-retirement

Family and residences

Tony Modra shares a long-term partnership with his wife, Erica, whom he married in 2008. The couple has two children: daughter Hayley May, born on March 18, 2008, in , and son Luke Anthony, born prematurely on January 12, 2012, at Flinders Medical Centre, weighing just 1.29 kg after arriving 12 weeks early. Hayley, who was four years old when her brother arrived, has grown up actively involved in family life and sports, including . Luke, now a teenager, has overcome his early health challenges to become an athletic standout, excelling in —where he has competed in junior tournaments—and also participating in soccer and at school and club levels, mirroring aspects of his father's sporting prowess. Following his AFL retirement in 2001, Modra and his family established a long-term base on a farm in Waitpinga on South Australia's , where they resided for over a decade while raising their children and managing rural life. In 2017, the family relocated to for improved opportunities in the children's activities and Modra's professional commitments, including his role as Corporate Relations Manager at the Little Heroes Foundation, a charity supporting seriously ill children and their families. As of 2025, Modra has returned to a farming lifestyle on the , splitting time between ambassador roles and local dairy operations. Throughout Modra's later career challenges, including recurring injuries that limited his play in the early , and into , his provided essential emotional stability, with Erica and the children offering a grounded home life amid his transitions from professional football to farming and roles. Luke's premature birth in particular strengthened bonds, inspiring resilience and toward medical support systems that mirrored the perseverance needed during Modra's injury-plagued seasons.

Farming, media, and community involvement

Following his retirement from professional football, Modra established a career in farming, operating a beef farm on his property at Waitpinga near Victor Harbor since 2003. He has expressed a deep passion for the work, describing it as a fulfilling pursuit that aligns with his love for animals and the rural lifestyle. In a September 2025 interview, Modra discussed the challenges and rewards of farming as part of his ongoing involvement in rural . Modra has maintained an active presence in media through guest speaking engagements and occasional AFL-related commentary. He is frequently booked for motivational talks at corporate and community events, drawing on his football experiences to inspire audiences. In 2011, Modra considered a return to the AFL in a coaching capacity with the Adelaide Crows, though he ultimately did not pursue it. More recently, he appeared on FIVEaa radio in September 2025 to discuss the Crows' premiership prospects. In community roles, Modra supports regional initiatives, including coaching clinics and sports nights in rural . As part of the Adelaide Crows' 2025 partnership with , he toured country football leagues to engage with local clubs and promote the sport. He also contributes to charitable causes, such as the Mighty River Run, where a signed of him was auctioned in November 2025 to raise funds for Novita Children's Services.

Recent activities

Return to competitive football

After retiring from the AFL in 2001, Modra returned to competitive football in 2004 by joining his hometown club, Encounter Bay, in the Great Southern Football League (GSFL), motivated by a desire to reconnect with the level of the game and the community spirit he had missed since leaving country football. He initially re-engaged with the town through local before deciding to play football again, a choice he later reflected on as "the best thing I ever did because I got to refamiliarise myself with grassroots footy." Over three seasons with Encounter Bay from 2004 to 2006, Modra demonstrated his enduring skill as a forward, booting more than 200 goals in total and earning recognition as one of the most skilled players to ever compete in the GSFL. A standout performance came on 30 June 2006, when he kicked 10 goals against Lucindale in a commanding win for his team. In 2007, Modra switched to the Keith Crows in the nearby Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League (KNTFL), where he played a pivotal role in their premiership success. Highlighting his impact, he slotted 8 goals in the grand final on 15 September 2007 at Naracoorte, contributing to Keith's 52-point victory over Penola and marking his first senior premiership since turning 21. Modra has sustained his involvement in country football into later years, serving as a coach for Encounter Bay's junior Moddies team during the 2024 season. This ongoing commitment stems from the unique appeal of country football's "camaraderie that pulls you in," where "the whole town gets involved," allowing him to reignite his passion for the sport long after his professional days. His unexpected returns have continued to draw media interest, with 2024 coverage emphasizing the joy and community ties that keep him involved.

Public appearances and interviews (2024–2025)

In April 2024, ahead of the South Australian country football season, Modra reflected on his decision to return to football two decades earlier, describing it as a pivotal move that reignited his passion for the sport and connected him with community values. He highlighted playing for Encounter Bay in the Great Southern Football League, where he kicked over 200 goals in three seasons, including a 10-goal haul in a premiership final, before moving to Keith Crows and winning another flag in with eight goals in the grand final. "It was the best thing I ever did because I got to refamiliarise myself with footy and the community vibe," Modra stated, emphasizing the importance of supporting country leagues as the "life fabric" of rural towns. In September 2025, Modra participated in an interview at the Fleurieu Milk Company's Myponga dairy farm, where he works managing nearly 400 cows, discussing the Adelaide ' strong finals prospects—their first since 2017—and critiquing the challenges for interstate teams in a Victorian-biased AFL system. He praised the ' growing in tight games, noting, "Finals is a different story, but I think (the ) are looking pretty good. We’ve started to win those close ones and get over the line and it’s just such a confidence boost for the team, to have that belief." Modra also shared his enthusiasm for farming life as a fulfilling post-AFL pursuit and joined the "Crowpool " initiative by performing the Crows' team song to rally fans ahead of the . On September 22, 2025, Modra attended the ceremony in , where he presented the NAB Goal of the Year award to Gold Coast's for a spectacular long-range goal. Later in 2025, a signed original portrait of Modra, painted by artist Ann Shannon and donated to the Novita charity, was auctioned during the Mighty River Run event on 12 November to raise funds for disability support services, with all proceeds benefiting those in need.

References

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