Tony Modra

Recruited as a mature-age player from West Adelaide, Tony Modra burst onto the scene to become one of the most spectacular full forwards of the 1990s. Renowned for his extraordinary aerial ability and contested marking, he generated a level of fan mania in South Australia rarely seen in the sport. His breakout 1993 season saw him kick 129 goals, and he claimed the Coleman Medal in 1997, yet his tenure at the Crows was defined by unfortunate timing in September. He missed the 1997 premiership due to a devastating knee injury sustained in the Preliminary Final and was controversially omitted by coach Malcolm Blight for the 1998 Grand Final despite being fit to play.

Following the breakdown of his relationship with the Adelaide coaching staff, Modra was traded to Fremantle ahead of the 1999 season. He made an immediate impact at his new club, kicking 71 goals and earning All-Australian selection in his first year as a Docker, proving he remained an elite scorer when fully fit. However, recurring injuries eventually slowed his output, leading to his retirement midway through the 2001 season. Although he finished his career without a premiership medallion, Modra remains a cult hero across the league, remembered as arguably the most exciting player of his generation.