George Caris

George Caris (8 June 1927 – 10 October 2013)[1] was an Australian rules footballer who played with South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

George Caris
Personal information
Full name George Caris
Date of birth (1927-06-08)8 June 1927
Date of death 10 October 2013(2013-10-10) (aged 86)
Original team(s) Sunday Amateurs
Height 182 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 81 kg (179 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1948–50 South Melbourne 19 (1)
1951–53 Port Melbourne 48 (-)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1953.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

South Melbourne

Caris came to South Melbourne from Olympic, a club in the local Sunday Amateur competition.[2][3] Used as a ruck-rover, Caris made 15 appearances for South Melbourne in the 1948 VFL season and earned a Brownlow Medal vote while playing on Norm Smith, but only managed to play three senior games in 1949.[4]

He played his first game of the 1950 season in round four, against Fitzroy, during which he was reported for "kicking" opponent Jack Gaffney.[4][5] Caris, who had kicked the only goal of his career in the third quarter, was suspended for eight weeks.[6][7] It would end up being his final appearance at VFL level, in 1951 he left for Port Melbourne.[8]

VFA

Caris was a regular member of the Port Melbourne team in the 1951 VFA season, as a half back flanker, although an ankle injury sustained in the club's preliminary final win cost him a grand final appearance.[9][10]

The following year he was a beneficiary of injury, when he took Denis Fogarty's spot in the starting side for the grand final against Oakleigh, which Port Melbourne lost by 21 points.[11][12] He kicked two goals and was named amongst Port Melbourne's best players.[12]

In 1953, Caris trained with the Richmond Football Club, but would return to Port Melbourne for a third and final VFA season.[13] He finished his VFA career with a premiership, as a back pocket in Port Melbourne's grand final win over Yarraville.[14]

Murtoa

Caris was cleared to Wimmera Football League club Murtoa as coach in 1954.[15] Coach of Murtoa for three seasons, Caris continued as a player until 1960.[16] Following a year as coach of Jung, he returned to Murtoa for a season in 1962, then later in 1968 came out of retirement and played one final season.[16]

He also played cricket for Murtoa and scored his maiden century at 51 years of age.[16][17]

References
  1. "George Caris – Player Bio". Australian Football. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  2. "Football VFL permits granted". The Argus. Melbourne. 15 April 1948. p. 6. Retrieved 15 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. ISBN 9781920910785.
  4. "George Caris – Games Played". AFL Tables. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  5. "Gossip from V.F.L. clubs: St. Kilda is "in the money"". The Argus. Melbourne. 15 May 1950. p. 20. Retrieved 15 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "Deplorable Effort at Fitzroy". Record (Emerald Hill). Victoria. 20 May 1950. p. 4. Retrieved 15 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "G. Caris disqualified for eight weeks". Record (Emerald Hill). Victoria. 20 May 1950. p. 5. Retrieved 15 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. "Port Melbourne sign Caris". The Argus. Melbourne. 11 April 1951. p. 11. Retrieved 15 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. "Injury may keep Caris out". The Argus. Melbourne. 3 October 1951. p. 13. Retrieved 15 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. "Forced change". The Argus. Melbourne. 5 October 1951. p. 12. Retrieved 15 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. "Port replaces wingers". The Argus. Melbourne. 3 October 1952. p. 8. Retrieved 15 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. "Port Melbourne again loses grand final". Record (Emerald Hill). Victoria. 10 October 1952. p. 4. Retrieved 15 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. "Former Richmond men try again". The Argus. Melbourne. 13 March 1953. p. 7. Retrieved 15 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. Fiddian, Marc (2013). The VFA – A History of the Victorian Football Association 1877 – 1995. Melbourne Sports Books.
  15. "George Caris To Coach Murtoa". Record (Emerald Hill). Victoria. 13 February 1954. p. 1. Retrieved 16 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. "Murtoa's George Caris remembered". Wimmera Mail-Times. 16 October 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  17. "Fighting Gellatly scores 74". The Horsham Times. Victoria. 13 October 1954. p. 6. Retrieved 16 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
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