AFL football icon Tony Modra is fighting for his life in hospital after suffering serious injuries following a cattle truck crash on Thursday.
The Adelaide and Fremantle great was airlifted to Flinders Medical Centre.
“A truck driver has been seriously injured after a crash at Back Valley,” SA Police said in a statement.
“About 5.15 pm on Thursday, 18 June, police and emergency services responded to reports that a truck had crashed into a tree on Range Road, Back Valley, about 10 kilometres west of Victor Harbor.
“The driver and sole occupant of the truck, a 57-year-old Waitpinga man, was taken to the hospital for treatment for serious injuries.
“Traffic restrictions were in place for several hours; the road has since fully reopened.”
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir, who was a former teammate of Modra's, sent his well-wishes following the club's win over Geelong.
"He's obviously a big part of the Freo family," Longmuir said.
"All I can say is I wish him and his family well, and hopefully he can pull through. I'm thinking of him, we're all thinking of him.”
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas provided a statement late on Thursday: “‘Mods' is an SA icon who has never forgotten where he came from. Down to earth and just a really good bloke,”
“Tony and his family are in our thoughts tonight, and we all hope he'll be ok.”
Modra played 165 games for the Crows and Dockers and was known for his elite high-flying ability.
He kicked 588 goals during his career in the top flight and featured for South Australia in the State of Origin on six occasions.
Modra was a two-time All-Australian, 1997 Coleman Medallist and six-time club leading goal-kicker.
