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 | 8 June 1927 | ||
| Date of death | 10 October 2013 (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
editCaris 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
editCaris 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
editCaris 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
edit- ^ "George Caris – Player Bio". Australian Football. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- ^ "Football VFL permits granted". The Argus. Melbourne. 15 April 1948. p. 6. Retrieved 15 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. ISBN 9781920910785.
- ^ a b "George Caris – Games Played". AFL Tables. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Deplorable Effort at Fitzroy". Record (Emerald Hill). Victoria. 20 May 1950. p. 4. Retrieved 15 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "G. Caris disqualified for eight weeks". Record (Emerald Hill). Victoria. 20 May 1950. p. 5. Retrieved 15 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Port Melbourne sign Caris". The Argus. Melbourne. 11 April 1951. p. 11. Retrieved 15 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Injury may keep Caris out". The Argus. Melbourne. 3 October 1951. p. 13. Retrieved 15 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Forced change". The Argus. Melbourne. 5 October 1951. p. 12. Retrieved 15 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Port replaces wingers". The Argus. Melbourne. 3 October 1952. p. 8. Retrieved 15 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b "Port Melbourne again loses grand final". Record (Emerald Hill). Victoria. 10 October 1952. p. 4. Retrieved 15 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Former Richmond men try again". The Argus. Melbourne. 13 March 1953. p. 7. Retrieved 15 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Fiddian, Marc (2013). The VFA – A History of the Victorian Football Association 1877 – 1995. Melbourne Sports Books.
- ^ "George Caris To Coach Murtoa". Record (Emerald Hill). Victoria. 13 February 1954. p. 1. Retrieved 16 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b c "Murtoa's George Caris remembered". Wimmera Mail-Times. 16 October 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- ^ "Fighting Gellatly scores 74". The Horsham Times. Victoria. 13 October 1954. p. 6. Retrieved 16 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
External links
edit- George Caris's playing statistics from AFL Tables