Anthony Modra didn’t begin the 1993 season as Adelaide’s first choice full forward.
But Modra-mania was about to sweep the AFL and South Australia.
Called into the opening round side to replace the injured Scott Hodges to play Richmond, Modra kicked 10 goals in the wet at the MCG.
They were the first of 129 goals for the season.
Modra wasn’t exactly a shooting star. He was 23 years old when he made his AFL debut in 1992, 18 months after playing country football at Renmark with his brothers, Kym and Rick.
But the rapid rise, mixed with spectacular marks, goals and his good looks, certainly turned him into an overnight superstar and he quickly became one of the most recognised and popular footballers in Australia.
Reluctant to leave the Riverland to play for West Adelaide, Modra first tried in 1988 and then persisted in 1991, long enough to earn an invite to Crows training and then win selection in the squad.
He played eight AFL games in 1992, was dropped after kicking 1.3 on debut but later showing some promise with bags of five, five and seven in other games.
But when the Crows planned their first side of 1993, Modra wasn’t there.
It was to be his year, however, as the 10-goal start against Richmond was only the first achievement of an amazing year in which he took the Mark of the Year against North Melbourne, kicked a Crows record 13.4 (also against Richmond), made the SA State-of-Origin side, became the first Crow to kick 100 goals and was chosen in the All-Australian side.
Modra in 1993
10.3 v Richmond
6.1 v West Coast
6.2 v Fitzroy
5.2 v Melbourne
7.3 v Hawthorn
5.1 v Collingwood
10.1 v North Melbourne
3.0 v Essendon
7.5 v Brisbane Bears
7.5 vFootscray
2.3 v Carlton
1.5 v Geelong
5.2 v Sydney
7.1 v St Kilda
13.4 v Richmond
4.4 v West Coast
7.2 v Fitzroy
4.9 v Melbourne
5.1 v Hawthorn
5.3 v Collingwood
2.2 v Hawthorn
2.1 v Carlton
6.1 v Essendon
