Caris came to South Melbourne from Olympic, a club in the local Sunday Amateur competition.
[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.
[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.
[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.