| George Caris | |
| Fullname: | George Caris |
| Birth Date: | 8 June 1927 |
| Originalteam: | Sunday Amateurs |
| Height: | 182 cm |
| Weight: | 81 kg |
| Statsend: | 1953 |
| Years1: | 1948–50 |
| Club1: | South Melbourne |
| Games Goals1: | 19 (1) |
| Years2: | 1951–53 |
| Club2: | Port Melbourne |
| Games Goals2: | 48 (-) |
| Careerhighlights: |
|
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).
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]
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]
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]