AFL legend Tony Modra has spoken publicly for the first time just a week after a horror truck crash almost claimed his life.
The father-of-two suffered severe facial injuries when a tree branch smashed through the windscreen of his cattle truck in a freak accident near his property south of Adelaide on June 18.
The former Adelaide Crows and Fremantle Dockers star, 57, was rushed to hospital in a critical condition, where he has since undergone multiple surgeries.
Still recovering in hospital, Modra recorded a voice message with AFL fans ahead of the Showdown clash between his beloved Crows and arch rivals Port Power on Saturday night.
‘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.’
The recording was shared by former Crows teammate Mark Ricciuto while commentating for Fox Footy.
Tony Modra recorded a message for footy fans ahead of Saturday night’s Showdown between the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide
The Crows legend (pictured in 1996) almost died in a freak accident a week ago
Ricciuto assured viewers that his great mate was on the mend and ‘is going to get through like only Tony Modra can’.
‘He doesn’t sound quite the same at the moment but he is in good spirits,’ he said.
‘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 the 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 recorded the message while catching up with Modra in hospital earlier in the week, where his mate cheekily referenced the former Crows skipper’s brutal hit on West Coast Eagles’ Dean Kemp in 1996.
‘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.
Modra’s recorded mesage was shared by former Crows teammate Mark Ricciuto (middle) while commentating for Fox Footy
Tony Modra (pictured with wife Erica and son Luke) remains in hospital
a tree branch smashed through the windscreen of his cattle truck in a freak accident near his property south of Adelaide on June 18.
‘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).’
The two-time All Australian played 165 AFL games and kicked 558 goals.
He was also took Mark of the Year three times.
