Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir delivered an emotional message for club great Tony Modra after learning of the AFL legend’s serious truck crash moments after the Dockers’ thrilling comeback victory over Geelong on Thursday night.
Longmuir had just watched his side overturn a 28-point deficit to record a 14.15 (99) to 14.6 (90) win at Optus Stadium and extend Fremantle’s club-record winning streak to 13 games when he was asked about Modra’s condition.
The 57-year-old Adelaide and Fremantle champion remains in hospital after a cattle truck crash near Victor Harbor in South Australia on Thursday evening.
Modra was airlifted to Flinders Medical Centre with serious injuries after his truck collided with a tree at Back Valley, about 10 kilometres west of Victor Harbor.
Longmuir, who played alongside Modra during the forward’s time at Fremantle, admitted the news had come as a shock.
‘It’s pretty fresh for me… obviously [Modra is] a big part of the Freo family,’ Longmuir said.
Longmuir described Modra as a ‘big part of the Freo family’ after learning of the accident post-match
‘All I can say is I wish him and his family well.
‘Hopefully he can pull through. I’m thinking of him, we’re all thinking of him and his family. Thoughts are with them.’
As the football world woke up to the news of Modra’s accident, tributes and messages of support poured in from across the country.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas described the former high-flying forward as an icon of the state.
”Mods’ is an SA icon who has never forgotten where he came from. Down to earth and just a really good bloke,’ Malinauskas said.
‘Tony and his family are in our thoughts tonight, and we all hope he’ll be ok.’
Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes also paid tribute to one of his childhood heroes.
‘He’s my hero, he has been since I was 10 years of age. He’s a fighter,’ Cornes said.
Modra played 47 games for Fremantle after joining the Dockers from Adelaide ahead of the 1999 season
Modra remains one of the most popular figures in Adelaide and Fremantle football history
Adelaide supporters flooded social media with messages of support, with one fan writing: ‘Sending positive vibes for Tony’s recovery, you are a legend mate. Keep fighting.’
Another posted: ‘Devastating news….sending love to all family & close friends…absolute legend of the game.’
Modra remains one of the most beloved figures in South Australian football history.
The former full-forward played 118 games and kicked 440 goals for Adelaide before finishing his AFL career with 47 games and 148 goals for Fremantle.
A two-time All-Australian and 1997 Coleman Medallist, Modra is remembered as one of the game’s greatest aerial entertainers, with his spectacular high marks making him a household name throughout the 1990s.
The sombre scenes came shortly after Fremantle had completed one of their most impressive wins of the season.
The Dockers trailed by 28 points midway through the second quarter and looked set for their winning streak to come to an end as they repeatedly squandered opportunities in front of goal.
But Longmuir’s side found another gear after half-time, kicking 10 straight goals to turn the match on its head and secure a hard-fought nine-point victory in front of 55,201 fans.
Star ruckman Luke Jackson was instrumental in the fightback, collecting 28 disposals, 26 hit-outs, six clearances and three goals in a dominant display.
‘He just keeps building, doesn’t he? He keeps growing as a player,’ Longmuir said.
‘He’s got fitter and stronger and his contest work is super and it was great to see him go forward and hang on to a couple of marks and finish his work off and get some reward that way.
