Modra's family and his good friend, former Crows teammate Mark Ricciuto, gave updates on Monday in the wake of the truck accident last week that could have killed him.
"Over the past four days, during which Anthony has twice undergone surgery, he has made encouraging progress," Modra's family said in a statement.
"However, we are still working through the extent of his injuries and as a family, we are in a very challenging period. There's a long road ahead."
The family thanked the first responders and medical staff who had helped Modra. They also paid tribute to his son Luke, whose quick thinking helped emergency services, and daughter Hayley, who was first to the hospital.
They added Modra was "overcome with emotion and gratitude" when his children told him of the support from Crows fans during their weekend home game.
"There has been an overwhelming show of love from our friends, extended family, Â the AFL community across the country, and broader public," they said.
Earlier on Monday, Ricciuto said Modra had avoided serious brain injury and was out of intensive care after surgery on his jaw, cheekbone and eye socket.
The Adelaide and Fremantle great suffered facial injuries when a falling tree branch smashed through the windshield of the truck he was driving last Thursday.
He was near his sheep and cattle farm some 90km south of Adelaide.
The 57-year-old was airlifted to Flinders Medical Centre and underwent facial surgery on Friday, before waking up on Saturday afternoon.
Ricciuto said the beloved football figure would require more surgery, but has had a "positive weekend" after being in critical condition.
"He remembered everything that happened, if you can believe that," Ricciuto told Triple M radio.
"So no concussion, no brain injury, which is a huge positive.
"So great news, he's got no brain issues; a little bit tough emotionally to get through reliving what happened.
"Yesterday, he actually came out of intensive care, which is great, but he's got to go back in and have more surgery today.
"It's a miracle not only that he's alive, but that he's at the point where he is right now.
"It's been a positive weekend, it's definitely fair to say."
Hailed by Crows coach Matthew Nicks as "one of the best footballers to play the game", Modra - wearing the No.6 guernsey - kicked 588 goals in 165 games for the Crows and Dockers between 1992 and 2001.
The Crows faithful paid tribute to the 57-year-old during the Adelaide Oval clash against Melbourne on Saturday, with a round of applause at the six-minute mark.
Crows assistant Murray Davis said the club remained in constant contact with the Modra family.
"It was a pretty special moment on that six-minute mark. We weren't quite aware of it in the coach's box, and we sort of thought, what's all that about?" he said.
Davis praised the resilience of the club's playing group, who have weathered emotional weeks following the death of captain Jordan Dawson's older brother Jaryd in April.
"You lean on your loved ones and people around you, and it teaches you what's important and perspective and gives people resilience," Davis said.
"We've seen this club be able to really connect on that front and do that well."
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