The Melbourne Cricket Ground witnessed an outpouring of raw emotion and pure joy on Friday night as Western Bulldogs forward Cody Weightman made his long-awaited return to AFL action. The talented forward, who missed the entire 2024 season due to a rare congenital knee condition, was visibly moved before and after the thrilling clash against Hawthorn.
Weightman was rushed back into the Bulldogs lineup and played a key role in the team's stunning come-from-behind victory, edging out the Hawks by a single goal in a dramatic boilover. After the match, a grinning but tearful Weightman revealed that he had been brought to tears earlier in the day while reading a notebook from his mother.
“I actually got given that notebook today and I started reading it and I started crying,” Weightman told Channel 7. “I’m like, I don’t need this pre-game.”
The Western Bulldogs shared excerpts of the emotional letter on social media. In it, Nicole Weightman wrote: “Cody, my heart broke the day I picked you up after your second operation. You hugged me so tightly, and you told me it was the worst pain you’d ever felt, the worst night of your life. Footy is your passion. I knew nothing would stop you. You’ve supported others and led with strength, even when you were the one hurting. That kind of resilience isn’t something you can teach, it’s something you are. I am in awe of you. Enjoy every second of it. Every step on that ground is earned. I love you more than any of this can say. Super proud, Mum.”
Seven commentator Abbey Holmes described it as a “beautiful letter,” while Weightman confessed he hadn't finished reading it. “I haven’t actually read it all, but I did bring it,” he said. “So I’ll get in the locker room now and I’ll flick through that as the night goes on.”
Weightman was effusive in his praise for his family's unwavering support, crediting them as instrumental in helping him through a very challenging period. “I’m so blessed with my family. If I lived ever again, I’d pick them every time,” he said. “Mum, Dad, Jake, Ricky, Molly, I’m so lucky to have them. The best family.”
The 24-year-old admitted he had been uncertain if he would ever get to step out onto an AFL field again. “I haven’t actually reflected much because I feel like I’ll get a bit emotional,” he told Channel 7. “It was really nice. I thought I’d be really nervous today but I was actually pretty calm ... kind of felt like I had nothing to lose given I didn’t know if I do this again. I’m (normally) pretty anxious before games so it was nice not to be anxious for once.”
Watching vision of himself running out onto the MCG, Weightman beamed and said “that’s cool.” He added: “I mean it’s a tough sport when you’re injured and, umm, it’s really good ... I don’t even know what to say ... it’s just awesome.”
Coach Luke Beveridge described getting Weightman back as “sensational” and dismissed suggestions that he should have returned through the VFL. “If we had have played him tomorrow against Box Hill there’s no way he’s coming up for the Adelaide game ... So people just need to do their homework,” Beveridge said. He also praised Weightman’s courage: “He’s just so courageous. As the game went on, he might not have touched the ball as much as he did in the first half ... we played him more forward in the second half ... and he had his impact.”
While Weightman did not hit the scoreboard, he finished the night with 11 disposals and 14 pressure acts from 69 per cent time on ground.
