Two of the Adelaide Football Club’s greatest players, Tony Modra and Tyson Edwards, have been inducted into the South Australian Football Hall of Fame.
Inaugural Crows player Darel Hart, who was an assistant coach with Adelaide, was also among the ten additions to the prestigious ‘club’ revealed tonight at a function at the Adelaide Oval.
Edwards, now an assistant coach at Port Adelaide, played 321 AFL games for Adelaide including its two premierships in 1997 and ’98. He also played one State game and represented Australia in International Rules.
Originally from Wynarka and recruited from West Adelaide in the 1994 pre-season draft, the durable midfielder made his AFL debut in 1995 and retired midway through the 2010 season.
“I was shocked when I got the call,” Edwards said. “It is not something I have ever thought about for one second. It is the biggest honour of my career. I am humbled by it all. All of my football heroes growing up are in the Hall of Fame. To be in that group is quite special.”
Modra is Adelaide’s greatest goalkicker. He booted 440 goals for the Crows in 118 games from 1992-98 and then finished his AFL career at Fremantle, where he kicked 148 goals from 47 games.
Modra, recruited by West Adelaide from the Riverland, also represented South Australia six times and kicked 22 goals.
It is nearly 21 years since Modra became the first Crow – and the 25th in VFL/AFL history - to kick 100 goals in a season.
“I was speechless when I was told of my selection – and still don’t know what to say,” Modra said.
“My first thought was, “Do I deserve it, did I play enough games?” To be with the greats of SA football is such a fantastic thrill and honour.”
Hart played 236 SANFL games for Central District and North Adelaide, 39 AFL games for the Crows, was an assistant coach at Adelaide from 1996-2000 and also coached North Adelaide.
The other inductees for 2014 were Chad Cornes, James and Chris Gowans, Phil Gallagher, Matthew Primus, Lawrence Cahill and umpire Tim Pfeiffer.
The SA Football Hall of Fame was established in 2002 to enshrine those who have made a ‘’most significant contribution to the game of Australian Football’’. It now includes 194 players, coaches, umpires, administrators and media representatives who fit the above criteria.
Inductees are selected by the South Australian Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee, which currently comprises Max Basheer (Chairman), Laurie Argent, John Halbert AM MBE, Bob Hammond AM, Neil Kerley AM, Chris McDermott, Michelangelo Rucci and Bill Sanders.
TYSON EDWARDS
Played: 42 SANFL games with West Adelaide from 1995-1998; 321 AFL games with Adelaide from 1995-2010. Kicked 203 goals. Represented SA once in 1999 and Australia twice.
Honours: Adelaide premiership player in 1997 and 1998; AFL pre-season premiership in 2003.
TONY MODRA
Played: 34 SANFL games with West Adelaide, 1988-1989, 1991-1992 and 1995; 118 AFL games with Adelaide from 1993-1998 and 47 AFL games with Fremantle from 1999-2001. Kicked 700 goals. Represented SA six times.
Honours: Coleman Medal as AFL leading goalkicker, 1997; All-Australian, 1993 and 1997; Fos Williams Medal as best-afield for SA, 1996; Adelaide leading goalkicker, 1993-1997 and Fremantle leading goalkicker, 1999.
DAREL HART
Played: 47 SANFL games with Central District, 1980-1983; 189 SANFL games with North Adelaide, 1984-1994; 39 AFL games with Adelaide in 1991 and 1992. Kicked 411 goals. Represented SA three times.
Coached: North Adelaide, 1993-1995 and 2001-2003 and SA State team from 2004-2009; Crows assistant coach 1996-2000.
Honours: North Adelaide premiership player in 1987 and 1991; North Adelaide best-and-fairest, 1986 and 1987 and Jack Oatey Medal as best-afield in SANFL grand final, 1991.
