There are many names that roll off the tongue when South Fremantle supporters recall  their golden era of the late forties and early fifties. As the years go by, it's just the out and out  stars who are recalled. The name of Jim Matison is one that would be testing the grey cells of those around long enough to remember, but  despite playing just sixty four games between 1947 and 1951, he was an important cog in the South machine, and played in two premierships, as well as being selected in a State Second side in 1950.  Matison was a product of Fremantle CBC, the son of Vic Matison, who played 69 games for South between 1905 and 1912, and a cousin of Frank, Harry, and Joe, who played for the club in the late thirties and early forties.  There was never any doubt that Matison would find his way to Fremantle Oval. Norm Smith, Clive Lewington, Terry Mahoney, Erik Eriksson, and Colin Hawkins were all within a dropkick of his house, while Jack Murray lived next door.  Captain of Christian Brothers, he had to postpone his league debut until the age of twenty four, due to the advent of World War Two.  Serving in the armed forces, Jim earned the nickname of “Lic Lic” in New Guinea, where apparently it is the term used for someone of small stature. At five foot five, he was a  quickfooted player who combined well as a wingman with half forward Len Crabbe, who in turn had a similar understanding with star full forward Bernie Naylor. It was a lethal combination.  Matison played all of his junior football as a rover, but received a jolt in his early days at Fremantle Oval when coach Ross Hutchinson took him aside and said: “Matty, you're not a rover.” It wasn't what the young player wanted to hear, and he responded with: “Does that mean I'm out?”  Hutchinson told him that he thought he'd go well on a wing, and that was where he played his first game.   “I didn't have time to get nervous, and played well on debut,” he recalled. “I vividly remember my first kick. I anxiously fumbled the ball in front of me and couldn't find the handle. Then I heard the comforting words from behind.. “keep going, Lik Lik, keep going.”  “It was the encouragement I needed from the great Frank “Scranno” Jenkins that helped me win possession and begin a wonderful time at South.”        Playing in the seconds in late 1947, the withdrawal of “Digger” Price on semi final day left an opening for Matison, and he responded by starring in South Fremantle's win, but the return of Price to play on “Popsy” Heal in the grand final forced him out of the twenty. In 1948 Matison became a regular in the side, playing on a wing, but took turns at roving, filling in admirably when Harry Carbon was an absentee on grand final day, and celebrated his first premiership.  Matison used his roving skills to advantage at midfield ball ups and throw ins, where his work with ruckman Don Wares resulted in many clearances.  In 1950, he was on a wing, alongside Lewington and Eriksson, in the Bulldogs six point grand final win over Perth. Clive Lewington, in his first season as captain coach, was the Simpson Medallist. A Port Authority clerk early in his league career, it was a promotion to Chief Wharf Clerk in 1951 that effectively ended Matison's football career. “It was a good promotion, but  it involved weekend work,” he explained. “In those days there was no money in football so I really had no option but to retire.”  He had played sixty four games and kicked twenty two goals. Matison later coached the Hamilton Hill juniors, winning a premiership, and several South Fremantle league stars, including State player Frank “Rooster” Johnson, have paid tribute to the influence he had on their careers. A handy cricketer in his youth, with a “highest batting aggregate” trophy with CBC to prove it, Jim also achieved a twelve handicap at golf, which he played at Kwinana and Chidley Point.  Chatting with Jim is an experience, a walk back into time. It's obvious that there was a special bond between players of the immediate post war period, the game was an extension of the struggles of a country emerging from a time of conflict. “We were all mates,” he said. But there is no grey area when it comes to the best. “Frank “Scranno” Jenkins was the best I played with,” he said. “He was a great player, a team man who looked after everyone in the side. But it was a terrific side, it was a pleasure to play with them all.” He had plenty of admiration for the legendary coach, Ross(later Sir Ross) Hutchinson. “He knew what he was doing. Ross was the driving force behind our success.” The Matison sporting ability has carried on to the next generation,with daughter Christine Dorey becoming an outstanding tennis player. A Wimbledon participant for five years, she was ranked number eight in Australia, and is still coaching professionally.    Jim Matison is a link to a generation, when times and society was different, as was the game of football.  He was a good player in South Fremantle's greatest era,  and for me it was a privilege to share his memories.