Tony Modra’s son Luke is proving to be a high-flyer like his AFL dad after being born 12 weeks premature

BORN 12 weeks premature and weighing just 1.29kg, Luke Modra was fighting for his life in the Flinders Medical Centre five years ago. Now the son of Crows legend Tony Modra is a healthy, sports-mad boy.

Tony Modra and son Luke, who has started Auskick at the Goodwood Oval. Picture: Calum Robertson

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BORN 12 weeks premature and weighing only 1.29kg, Luke Anthony Modra was fighting for his life in the Flinders Medical Centre five years ago.

Now the son of Crows legend Tony Modra is a healthy, sports-mad boy.

He has started playing Auskick and, to the delight of Adelaide fans everywhere, showing the same talent as his high-flying father.

Recalling Luke’s courageous battle to survive in the days after his birth, Modra and his wife Erica are simply grateful to have a well and happy child.

“It’s really special considering where we were when he was prem (premature), compared to what he’s doing now.

“We’re very lucky parents to see him run out there and obviously show some very good signs of being a normal child,” said Modra, who played 118 games and kicked 440 goals for the Crows during 1990s.

Born on January 12, 2012, at 28.5 weeks gestation, Luke’s first six weeks were “textbook” before he picked up an infection, which led to seven weeks in the neonatal unit’s intensive care section.

Little Luke Modra in hospital at just four days old, after he was born 12 weeks premature.

He was eventually discharged after 82 days in hospital.

Fast forward to this year and Luke was given the final all-clear by doctors, who continue to monitor babies born prematurely for years after their birth.

“Flinders are so amazing. They do long-term follow-ups, looking at the child’s growth and development in so many different areas,” Mrs Modra said.

“They’ve tested everything from motor development to cognition, hearing, sight, all sorts of things. He’s got the all-clear so we’ve been really lucky.”

Luke started school this year, with his older sister, Hayley, 9, a budding netball star, and most afternoons they can be found at their local football oval or having a hit of tennis next door.

“Luke loves his sport, whether it’s football, tennis, soccer. It’s up to him, as long as he’s enjoying himself,” Modra said.

“When I was younger I used to have a little sock that I’d do up as a ball and kick around the house, kicking around the corridors with the doorways as the goals.

He’s just started to get into doing that when he can’t get outside the house if it’s raining. He always finds ways to kick the ball around and use his skills.

“He also loves kicking a soccer ball off the ground. I did a bit of soccer in my younger days ... I think he gets the tennis off his mum, she was pretty good at tennis.”

But football might be his future because there are signs Luke will inherit his father’s famous leap — with a little added toughness.

Tony Modra and his wife Erica with Luke when he was just two days old.

“He loves having a jump at the footy and taking a bit of a speccy, and that sort of thing,” Modra said.

“But Luke is a very good tackler, unlike me. I don’t know where he got that from. Put it this way, if he can’t get it, he doesn’t want anyone else to get it.”

If you ask Luke himself, he says one day he wants to don the tricolours just like his dad and become the Crows’ most anticipated father-son recruit.

“I love footy 100 (per cent). I like big marks and snaps, kicking goals,” Luke said.

After more than a decade working as a farmer on his property at Waitpinga on the Fleurieu Peninsula, Modra and the family returned to Adelaide about seven months ago, allowing the SA icon to take up a key role with the Little Heroes Foundation as corporate relations manager.

“It’s been fantastic. I’ve been playing the Slowdown (Little Heroes charity footy game) the last 15 years but now I have a bit more input with the foundation and can try and raise a bit more money for the sick kids,” Modra said.

“We’re also more central for Luke and Hayley. There’s a lot more for them to do and more opportunities. We’re really loving it.”

LUKE ANTHONY MODRA

SON OF CROWS LEGEND TONY MODRA

■ Born on January 12, 2012 at Flinders
Medical Centre by caesarean section

■ Luke’s mother, Erica, was 28.5 weeks pregnant at the time

■ He weighed 1.29kg and was 40cm long at birth

■ Luke picked up an infection at six weeks old, leading to emergency surgery, two blood transfusions, four lumbar punctures and seven weeks in intensive care

■ Luke was discharged from Flinders Medical on April 4, 2012, five days after his original due date

■ Flinders Medical Centre Foundation helps support the FMC neonatal unit — more info at their website: fmcfoundation.com.au

■ Little Heroes Foundation raises funds towards essential equipment and services for seriously ill children and their families — more info at their website: littleheroesfoundation.
com.au