AFL great Tony Modra has been seriously injured in a truck accident on his South Australian property, Australian Associated Press reports.
Modra, renowned as one of the AFL’s most brilliant players in a career spanning 1992 to 2001 at Adelaide and Fremantle, was in hospital in a serious condition with undisclosed injuries on Thursday night.
Modra was driving a truck on his property at Back Valley, about 90km south of Adelaide, when the vehicle struck a tree about 5.15pm ACST (5.45pm AEST) on Thursday.
“Police and emergency services responded to reports that a truck had crashed into a tree at Range Road, Back Valley,” South Australian police said in a statement.
“The driver and sole occupant of the truck, a 57-year-old man from Waitpinga, was taken to hospital for treatment for serious injuries.”
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir, who played alongside Modra at the Dockers from 1999 to 2001, was shocked by the news.
“He’s obviously a big part of the Freo family, and all I can say is I wish him and his family well,” he said.
“Hopefully, he can pull through. I’m thinking of him. We’re all thinking of him and his family.”
Modra has lived on a beef and cattle farm at Waitpinga since 2003. A dual All Australian and five-time Crows leading goalkicker, Modra, who was born in McLaren Vale, south of Adelaide, kicked 588 goals in 165 AFL games.
