Adelaide Crows fans erupted in applause at the sixth minute of the team’s match against Melbourne to wish former number-six player Tony Modra well in his recovery from a serious truck crash.
SA Health said on Saturday that the 57-year-old Waitpinga man was now in a stable condition at the Flinders Medical Centre.
He underwent facial surgery on Friday after the truck he was driving hit a tree near Victor Harbor on Thursday.
The Crows’ match against the Demons at Adelaide Oval on Saturday was the first chance for many fans to pay tribute to one of the first superstar players for the team from the 1990s.
Tony Modra played 118 games for the Crows, as well as 47 for Fremantle. (Getty Images/Michael Wilson)
Many stood up and clapped six minutes into the first quarter.
“Of course, we wish him all the best in his recovery,” fellow former Crow Mark Ricciuto said from the commentary box.
Adam Geisler came to the game wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with Modra’s image from his heyday.
Mr Geisler was due to meet the two-time All-Australian and one-time Coleman Medallist at “The Bunker” behind-the-scenes experience.
“Hopefully, he recovers well,” Mr Geisler said.
“The show will go with him — of course it will, he’s Modra, he’s Godra — so he’ll make a full recovery, and we’ll see him back.”
Adelaide Crows fans held signs wishing Tony Modra well during the match against Melbourne. (Mark Brake/Getty Images)
Fond memories of Modra
Kathie Hams met Modra when her husband and son were playing for Willunga against Modra’s Encounter Bay team, after he retired from the AFL.
“He’s a lovely, lovely man and I’m very sad that he’s had to go through this, but very grateful for the 78-year-old lady that found him and looked after him until the ambos got there — that was brilliant,” Ms Hams said.
Mother and daughter Kathie and Sally Hams admired Tony Modra during his heyday. (ABC News: James Wakelin)
Her daughter, Sally Hams, called for more trees along country roads to be trimmed to make driving safer.
“I think we need to chop these down because it’s devastating that this has happened,” she said.
Another fan, Frank Kleinig, wished Modra “best of luck and a speedy recovery”.
“It was just ‘wow’ and a freak accident … pretty bad news, but it’s good to see that he’s recovering,” he said.
“Got a few scars he’ll have as war wounds.”
Frank Kleinig was shocked to hear the news about Tony Modra on Thursday night. (ABC News: James Wakelin)
Emergency services honoured
The Crows had already planned to honour emergency services during Saturday’s match, with free tickets handed out to 3,000 first responders.
South Australian Emergency Services Minister Rhiannon Pearce urged more people to consider taking on volunteer roles.
“It really put at the forefront of our minds just how crucial and important it is, the work of our emergency services personnel,” she said.
“They played a really important role in ensuring that Tony was able to get care and support as quickly as possible and it’s also a reminder that they do put themselves at risk to do what they do and we thank them for what they have done.”
Speaking to SA Grandstand, former Port Adelaide AFL player Josh Francou said Modra was known for being competitive but not a smart alec or foul-mouthed on the field.
“He just went out there and did his job — and did it pretty well,” Francou said.
He said Modra was “three rungs” above other early Crows favourites Mark Ricciuto, Andrew McLeod and Darren Jarman.
