George Caris

George Caris
Personal information
Full nameGeorge Caris
Date of birth8 June 1927
Date of death10 October 2013 (aged 86)
Original teamSunday Amateurs
Height/Weight182 cm / 81 kg
Playing career1
YearsClubGames (Goals)
1948-1950
1951-1953		South Melbourne
Port Melbourne		19 (1)
48 (-)
1 Playing statistics correct to end of 1953 season.
Career highlights

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).

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 appearance 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, Vic.: National Library of Australia). 15 April 1948. p. 6. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  3. ↑ Holmesby, Russell & Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. ISBN 9781920910785.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "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, Vic.: National Library of Australia). 15 May 1950. p. 20. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  6. ↑ "Deplorable Effort at Fitzroy.". Record (Emerald Hill) (Vic.: National Library of Australia). 20 May 1950. p. 4. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  7. ↑ "G. Caris disqualified for eight weeks.". Record (Emerald Hill) (Vic.: National Library of Australia). 20 May 1950. p. 5. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  8. ↑ "Port Melbourne sign Caris.". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia). 11 April 1951. p. 11. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  9. ↑ "Injury may keep Caris out.". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia). 3 October 1951. p. 13. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  10. ↑ "Forced change.". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia). 5 October 1951. p. 12. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  11. ↑ "Port replaces wingers.". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia). 3 October 1952. p. 8. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Port Melbourne again loses grand final.". Record (Emerald Hill) (Vic.: National Library of Australia). 10 October 1952. p. 4. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  13. ↑ "Former Richmond men try again.". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia). 13 March 1953. p. 7. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  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) (Vic.: National Library of Australia). 13 February 1954. p. 1. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 "Murtoa's George Caris remembered". Wimmera Mail-Times. 16 October 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  17. ↑ "Fighting Gellatly scores 74.". The Horsham Times (Vic.: National Library of Australia). 13 October 1954. p. 6. Retrieved 16 February 2015.

External links