Think East Fremantle rovers and straight away the names come up. Trizzy Lawrence, Tony Buhagiar, Graham Melrose, Jack Sheedy, Oscar Howard, Jim Conway, Ron Cicerello and Steve Marsh are a sample of the little men to wear the blue and white over the years. John Martinson never reached those heights after a brilliant junior career, but we will never know what he could have done given the chance. Numerous bouts of concussion brought to an end a promising career in 1966, after playing in just thirty two games. Twice fairest and best for South West club Carey Park's under eighteens, Martinson became a member of the club's first ever premiership side in 1961, at the age of eighteen. After following that up with a fairest and best award the following season, the heavies from East Fremantle( Ken Tilly, George Cormack, and Bob Johnson) made a beeline for his door. “I was a keen East Perth supporter,” he said. “Jack Sheedy, their coach, had been an idol of mine growing up, and I'd modelled my game on his, especially his kicking. But I was knocked over that they'd driven all that way to see me, so I jumped at it.” East Fremantle had already had the young rover in their colours. In 1961 he played a colts game with them. In 1964, playing on weekly permits, Martinson played his first league game in the Foundation Day Derby. East won that one, their first Foundation Day Derby win in nine years, but John wasn't around to celebrate afterwards. After starring in the first half, kicking three goals, he was knocked out just before the long break, and spent the night next door, at Fremantle Hospital.  It was to be the first of many k.o's he would suffer over three seasons, and was to bring about his retirement from league football.  A brilliant kick, fashioned after watching the great Jack Sheedy, and a quick mover, the five foot six Martinson played six more times for East Fremantle in 1964, but became a permanent rover for the league side the following year. “Trizzy Lawrence was at the end of his career and did an ankle, Ron Cicerello broke down, and Terry Schell was also injured. That left just Harry Bentley and me,” the modest Martinson said. It was a great year for John and the club, with a grand final appearance the highlight. “My feet never touched the ground as we ran out,” he recalled. “It was awesome.” Martinson showed he was a big game player, with three goals in a fine display helping his side to a memorable premiership win over Swan Districts.  Star East Fremantle and State wingman, Laurie Watson, played in that game. “John Martinson's run was a big factor in us getting back into that game, and ultimately winning,” he said. “John was a very good rover.”     After just thirty two games, John's world came crashing down in early 1966, when he was concussed again, this time at Lathlain Park. Medical advice given to both Martinson and the club ruled out any thoughts of taking the field again. Standing out of the game he loved for two and a half years, Martinson made a comeback with Carey Park in 1969, before moving to Boyanup-Capel-Dardanup, where he also coached the reserves for two seasons. Playing coach of Boyanup-Capel-Dardanup in 1972, John was back at Carey Park the following year, where he was part of another premiership. At the time, he was one of only a few players to be part of the club's two flags.  In mid-1974, at the age of twenty nine, Martinson was concussed again. “The daddy of them all,” was his comment. When he started to get blackouts at work, he knew enough was enough.  Martinson then threw himself into the off field running of the club, and “threw himself” is the operative word. President in 1976-77-78-89-90-91-94-95-96, he is a life member of Carey Park and the South West National Football League.  He had a high regard for Billy Walker. “He was lightning fast. I thought I could run until I came up against him and Cable,” he laughed.  Proprietor of a mechanical business during his playing days, Martinson later switched to real estate, and is now busily engaged in buying and selling houses with Bunbury Land and Estate Agency. Back on the Carey Park committee, he is a keen race fan and still avidly follows East Fremantle. His son, Michael “could have been anything,” playing Teal Cup for Western Australia in Tasmania, but the Martinson hoodoo struck again, a knee injury ending his career soon after.  John Martinson was a talented rover who was tragically struck down before he really found his feet in league football. Three goals in a grand final as a twenty year old in his second season at league level is an indication that East Fremantle lost a player of ability, and Martinson was robbed of a long and successful career.