However, the shock was instant when the face on the other end of the line appeared.
It was none other than Richmond legend Jack Riewoldt — singing the Martiniello family’s praises, of all things.
“It ambushed me a bit, to be honest,” John said.
“I was informed that I had to be at Meg Morrison’s house — I wasn’t sure what it was for, and I wasn’t allowed to ask questions.
“Next thing you know I’m on a one-on-one phone call with Jack Riewoldt.
“As it transpired, he ended up talking rather glowingly about some of the things I had done in the past.”
John’s experience came as one of various volunteer phone calls from Richmond players as part of the club's Community Series.
Organised by AFL Goulburn Murray (AFLGM), the Jack Riewoldt call was the “premium moment from a Benalla perspective”, according to football development manager Daniel Preston.
“John Martiniello, as an extension of his family, was selected by Richmond Football Club to be given recognition of all the family has done for the football and netball community in Benalla,” he said.
“As part of the deal, they’ll receive special reserve seating at a Richmond game as well as a tour of the Punt Road facility.”
If there was ever a sporting family worthy of the call in Benalla, it would be the Martiniellos.
John, a gritty rover, played 316 games for Benalla, winning six best and fairest awards as well as earning an induction into the Ovens and Murray Football League Hall of Fame.
His son James has played close to 200 games for the club, while brother Will has given a similarly astonishing output during his footballing career.
So as devout Tigers fans, what iced the cake for John was the fact his call came from one of the club greats.
“I’m lucky enough to be invited down to Punt Road for a tour which I am totally stoked about. It is a lovely gesture, and to top it all off, I’m a Richmond fan,” he said.
“We went through some really rough patches in the 90s and 2000s as Tigers supporters — I copped a fair bit from my own kids.
“They’d say ‘why can’t you support Hawthorn or one of the other clubs?'.
“I said to them, `once a supporter, always a supporter'. Now we’re doing well I’m the greatest dad in the world.”
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