Who would have thought that a heartthrob from the mid-'90s would still be making people swoon in 2025? But here we are. The Tony Modra Valentine’s Day card has caused an absolute stir...in the best way possible. Turns out, Adelaide still has a massive soft spot for the man, and honestly, same.
When I first came up with the idea, I was in absolute fits of laughter at my desk. Like, properly crying-laughing. I had no idea that so many other people would be right there with me. But then The Moonta Collective shared it online, and suddenly it was everywhere. People were tagging their mates, reminiscing about Modra magic, and generally just losing their minds. Then I got invited on FiveAA and ABC radio to talk about it, and I even ended up in the Yorke Peninsula Country Times. What a world!
And yes, we can officially confirm: Tony Modra does know about the card! A mate of his bought one from The Moonta Collective and showed him. He was invited onto FiveAA to chat about it, but in classic Modra fashion, he politely declined and said he’d just listen in instead. Honestly, just knowing he’s aware of it is enough to make my inner child scream.
Because here’s the thing...Modra has always been a hero of mine. Some of my best childhood memories are of going to Footy Park (yes, I said Footy Park NOT AAMI Stadium, because I refuse) with my dad and my Poppa, watching Modra take those ridiculous speckies. Even when the Crows were having a shocker, it was still a great game if Modra was on the field. The man could leap like a wounded gazelle.
And then, the moment that changed my life forever (slight exaggeration, but let me have this): I met him. I was eight years old, on a family holiday in Port Douglas, and there he was. Tony Modra. In the flesh. I nervously went up to him, and he was everything I hoped he’d be...kind, friendly, and just an all-round legend. He gave me his autograph (which I still have, obviously). People always say don’t meet your heroes, but I have zero regrets. If anyone ever dared to bad-mouth Modra in front of me, I’d be throwing hands.
What a man! What a legacy! And I love that so many other people feel the same way. This whole thing has been a wild ride, and I’m just so happy that a funny little card brought so many people so much joy. Footy nostalgia is alive and well, and let’s be real, it always will be.