-
AFLW 2024 - Round 6 - Chat, game threads, injury lists, team lineups and more.
It’s Flea time - Cody Weightman appreciation thread
- Thread starter weltschmerz
- Start date
- Tagged users None
- Apr 5, 2016
- 8,140
- 18,691
- AFL Club
- Western Bulldogs
- Other Teams
- Boston Celtics
On The Couch (or 360?) said last night that Weightman has kicked 3+ on more occasions than he has kicked 0. I realise kicking a single goal isn't the be all and end all of ranking a players consistency, but he's only had 9 goalless games in his career.
- Sep 22, 2008
- 25,524
- 34,635
- AFL Club
- Western Bulldogs
- Banned
- #453
Yep I think he cops way too much flak on here about his inconsistencies, there’s probably a couple injury effected games etc in that 9 too. Pretty damn good for a small forward who started playing consistently in his 2nd? Year.
Probably just because his big games are so big his small ones look quiet!
He has that instinctive nose for goal which is like lightning in a bottle. We haven't had that since Tory Dickson.
Could become one of the best small forwards the Bulldogs have ever had the way he's tracking.
Always a threat...
Could become one of the best small forwards the Bulldogs have ever had the way he's tracking.
Always a threat...
Last edited:
- May 23, 2019
- 12,044
- 29,485
- AFL Club
- Western Bulldogs
- Thread starter
- #455
Signed on until free agency.
Flea is a very, very good player. Averaging the most goals per game of any small forward this year, and as accurate as they come. He’s the player who I smile watching every week.
Flea is a very, very good player. Averaging the most goals per game of any small forward this year, and as accurate as they come. He’s the player who I smile watching every week.
Dogs_r_barking
Premiers 2016
Veteran
Western Bulldogs - Ed Richards Player Sponsor 2024
Western Bulldogs - Bailey Dale Player Sponsor 2024
Western Bulldogs - Ed Richards Player Sponsor 2023
Western Bulldogs - Bailey Dale Player Sponsor 2023
10k Posts
Western Bulldogs - Bailey Dale Player Sponsor 2022
Western Bulldogs - Ed Richards Player Sponsor 2022
Great show of faith. No wonder Bevo went in hard to bat for him.
ossie_21
Premium Platinum
“It was a real no-brainer”: Weightman
The Bulldogs forward says extending his contract to remain at the Kennel was a no-brainer.
Western Bulldogs forward Cody Weightman says extending his contract to remain at the Kennel was a no-brainer.
The 23-year-old was due to come out of contract at the end of 2025, but in a show of faith has put pen to paper on a two-year extension – keeping him a Bulldog until at least the end of 2027.
“It was a real no-brainer for me,” Weightman said.
“It’s crazy to think that it will end up being my eighth year by the end of this deal.
“This club gave me my first shot at it...being able to live that dream (of playing AFL) here is something that I often pinch myself at still.”
There’s no denying Weightman is a fan favourite of the Bulldogs faithful – with his infectious energy on-field a key part of his game.
He said while he didn’t plan to be known for that, it’s a role he doesn’t take lightly.
“I think there’s a lot of noise during the week – so for the two hours that you’re out there, it’s just pure enjoyment,” he said.
“I don’t see a reason to hide that energy or emotion – I like to bring that out when I play.
“I think other players can feed on that which is good, and then can ultimately help us win too. We’re all helping each other and getting around each other.
“I certainly haven’t designed it (that way), but it’s become a bit of my role here to bring some energy and have other players feed on that to try and give us a little edge on the game.
“It’s a bit of an unofficial role, but something that I’ve enjoyed doing.”
Weightman also thanked those around him for the ability to play freely, and the fans for their constant support.
“Whether it’s Bonti or it’s Bevo, they’ve always backed me in and just given me the freedom to play my way,” he said.
“There’s people everywhere at this club that enable me to get the best out of myself, and that’s a big reason as to why I want to stay and keep trying to thrive.
“I’m extremely grateful for the support I get from our fans. Again, it’s part of the reason I’ve so much energy on the field. I feed off (the crowd) and is a feeling I can’t even describe really – when the fans are engaging with us as players.
“It’s a job like no other. I don’t think I’ll ever find this feeling again.
“I won’t ever have the chance to thank (all the fans) individually, but when they see the way I play hopefully (that’s my way) of repaying them for all of their passion and support.”
Hopefully a proud Doggie supporter
dogwatch
Premium Platinum
Pretty sure that's the laneway out the back of Clarko's place.
Bulldogs Media | Western Bulldogs
Watch the latest videos from the Western Bulldogs
The art of balance: Why footy's not Cody Weightman's only passion
The star Bulldog is determined to avoid the 'cookie-cutter' stereotype of an AFL footballer, he tells Josh Gabelich on a wander through the city's most vibrant laneways
www.afl.com.au
CODY Weightman grew up with a brush in his hand and boots on his feet. That was life on the family farm in Pakenham. Painting used to be just for fun, like playing footy in that part of greater Melbourne. But now, they both mean more. Much more.
Art has provided Weightman with balance as an athlete and an escape from the intense scrutiny the small forward has received since bursting onto the scene in 2021, during a period where he helped the Bulldogs reach a Grand Final in Perth.
Expectations have soared since then, as has his profile, which is why we are walking up Flinders Lane on a Monday afternoon. Weightman's appeal as an articulate, thoughtful young man with diverse interests outside the game, combined with his explosive football ability and outgoing on-field persona, make him a player in demand when brands come looking for a footy-aligned face.
And the colourful laneways spiking off the city's arterial streets make a fitting backdrop for Weightman's foray into the world of fashion and city culture.
The first stop is Duckboard Place, out the front of modern Indian restaurant Tonka, where the street art splashed across the walls works in two ways – visually, setting off Weightman's vibrant outfit, and thematically, evoking his passion for exploring the world of colour and contrast through art.
Then we jump the queue for a photo at the iconic, not-so-hidden gem of a restaurant at Soi 38, where down-to-earth Thai street cuisine is served up in rustic fashion inside a concrete carpark at McIlwraith Place, before heading north across the city to Tattersalls Lane.
The city's laneways, dotted all across Melbourne, are a long way from the semi-rural property where Weightman grew up but the Bulldogs young gun looks at home. The sense of imminent surprise – where rounding a laneway's next corner might reveal a secretive cocktail bar, a fine dining restaurant, or a spraypainted mural that takes your breath away – reflects Weightman's many facets as a footballer, and as a person.
These days, photoshoots have become a regular part of the game. He has handled the volume turning up, showing why he was taken at pick No. 15 in the 2019 AFL Draft. He kicked 36 goals in 2022, 34 last year and has 22 on the board from 12 appearances in 2024.
While Weightman is clear on his strengths as a footballer, he is still working out exactly what type of artist he wants to be. Right now, the art is a mix of realism and modern art. He likes pursuing something seldom associated with footballers, like Christian Petracca is doing with his cooking vlog and Izak Rankine with singing.
Both Petracca and Rankine will be involved when Weightman showcases his artwork for the first time later this month, holding an exhibition titled Beyond the Game from August 29 until September 1, where proceeds will be donated to Make-A-Wish Australia.
"If you look at Christian with his cooking, people are doing things now that aren't what footballers are traditionally meant to be, I suppose, in this stereotype world. When I first was looking into this, I did look for inspiration. There aren't many athletes out there doing art as a hobby. I don't have much to base this on, but it is cool to be in an environment now where it is cool to do other things and it is accepted as a footballer. You don't have to be the cookie-cutter that players feel they have to be,” Weightman told AFL.com.au.
"I've always done art growing up. I found it is something that I love, and as the relationship with footy becomes more of a job than just the love you had as a kid for it, I've probably been able to refine that a bit with my art. It is something that I am quite obsessive over and enjoy doing in my spare time. Find your passion and make it your job. I'm starting to think that I'll do more with my art post-footy, so I'm setting that up while I'm playing. I'm enjoying having the freedom with it at the moment."
Weightman is better at stopping to smell the roses than most. He practises gratitude daily and knows how many kids playing junior football in this city want to be in the position he is. Solo end-of-season trips, off the grid in Bali or up the east coast of Australia, have also helped him gain greater appreciation of his progress.
"This is exactly what I wanted in life. Growing up, you devote everything to this. It is extremely humbling to think that you've got it or are doing it. It is rewarding but it is something I'm extremely grateful for," Weightman said.
"In those moments when you are under the pump or things feel scary around media attention it is important to remember that. At the club we talked about your seven-year-old self and just putting yourself in those shoes. It is pretty empowering to think about.
"Football is almost like a university of life. I’m just enjoying being part of it. The good and the bad. It can be a negative industry at times, very tall poppy syndrome. It is scary at times when you feel the heat. Everyone wants to be liked, it is a human way, so for people to be challenging that or challenging you in any way it is uncomfortable, but I think you've got to come back to your core values and valuing the opinions that matter to you, and staying true to your values. I think that eventually shines through."
Luke Beveridge has always been in Weightman's corner, like a cut man in boxing, patching up and inspiring between rounds. The Western Bulldogs premiership coach has stood up for his players since he arrived at the Whitten Oval in 2014 and was at his defensive best during an appearance on Fox Footy a few weeks ago.
"I've got a special relationship with 'Bevo'," Weightman said. "He goes into bat for us regardless. He understands us as humans and that feels really important. It feels great to have your coach back you. As a player you feel a bit voiceless at times, especially when there is dirt being thrown around with your name. It is nice to have someone go in and say what you feel like you'd like to say. No one wants to hear someone defend themselves, so it is nice to have someone else do it. I really appreciate him doing that."
After starting the season 3-5, Beveridge's position at the club looked vulnerable in May. The pressure was mounting after two disappointing campaigns, amplified by an internal and external review at the end of last season.
The Dogs haven't won a final since that majestic ride to the 2021 Grand Final, but they are miraculously back in premiership contention again, sitting seventh with two games to play despite Sunday's loss to Adelaide. They have recently beaten three sides that were in the top-four at the time in three consecutive weeks, including Geelong at Kardinia Park and then Sydney at the SCG, returning to the top eight for the first time since round six.
"It is a strange method that we go with down at the Kennel; we have a habit of sitting mid-pack and then trying to charge late. It does feel like it's happening again... it feels like our last month or two have been really solid. Things are starting to feel really solid at the club, too. We feel really confident that our footy stacks up in finals," he said.
Weightman is a key cog in attack around the big three – Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (37 goals in 2024), Aaron Naughton (26) and Sam Darcy (26) – who present one of the toughest tasks in the game. After missing six weeks due to an elbow reconstruction in April, Weightman has averaged almost two goals a game this year. He had 22.5 on the board before a wayward few weeks but is considered one of the deadliest shots in the caper.
"I think goalkicking is a lot mental. It is an interesting topic. There is a lot of foundation stuff that physically you need to get right and then by game day hopefully it feels automatic. I feel really confident in my routine now," he said.
"Being able to be comfortable that you might miss, too, is important; there is no fear in missing. If you miss, the ability to move on is the best way to kick your next goal. It is a skill that our game hasn't improved for a long time. I'm really interested in goalkicking; the team that figures out how to kick five per cent better will win the next premiership. Everything is improving but that. I'd love to figure it out as a product, because the person that does will be a rich man.
"We actually watched a really interesting clip on Roger Federer recently. He won 80 per cent of his games but in terms of the actual points breakdown over his career, he won 54 per cent of his points. It is amazing to think that someone so accomplished like him can only have a four per cent buffer. You have to understand that he's not going to win every point, but that four per cent is what can make you him. His ability to move on and play the next point is the difference. You can see that with the best players."
Cody Weightman Art Auction | Powered by Givergy
Bid on exclusive money can't buy items & experiences with Make-A-Wish Australia. Enter into one of our charity auctions, prize draws or buy exclusive
aus.givergy.com
A lot of respect to players who walk the walk on giving to the community. That includes Petracca here too, in a tough weak for him.
Dogs_R_Us
Space Traveller
It’s a fantastic venture by Cody, Christian and Liam. For onceCody Weightman Art Auction | Powered by Givergy
Bid on exclusive money can't buy items & experiences with Make-A-Wish Australia. Enter into one of our charity auctions, prize draws or buy exclusive
A lot of respect to players who walk the walk on giving to the community. That includes Petracca here too, in a tough weak for him.
I wish I lived in Melbourne. I hope lots of you can go along and maybe snare a Cody Weightman original piece.
Above and beyond: Cody's passion brings stars out for good cause
Cody Weightman's artwork is headlining a showcase of footballers' side hustles, with proceeds of a silent auction going to the Make A Wish Foundation
www.afl.com.au
UP THE stairs, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Fitzroy's Gertrude Street in Melbourne's trendy inner north, sits a minimalistic warehouse space where, for one weekend only, footy and art meet in the middle.
The dichotomy of footy's hectic, all-encompassing nature and the wholesome, unwinding nature of his art has always been something that fascinates Western Bulldogs ace Cody Weightman, and has led to Wednesday evening's launch party for his new exhibition Beyond The Game.
Among the surrealist canvas paintings, the redesigned skateboards and the projections beamed onto the walls throughout the gallery 'At The Above' are some of the biggest names in AFL and AFLW, showcasing their skills outside of the game.
"I thought the idea of the event was good and it was something that would appeal to AFL players. I did think that people would be keen to get involved and do a nice charity event, while promoting what they do outside of footy," Weightman tells AFL.com.au.
The artworks are Weightman's own, with a silent auction ongoing across the weekend to raise money for the 'Make A Wish' foundation. His Bulldogs teammate Liam Jones provides the tunes on his guitar, Melbourne superstar Christian Petracca is in the kitchen serving the food, Bailey Smith's 'Barry' drinks are being handed out, while Adelaide premiership player Abbey Holmes is the night's MC.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge is in attendance, almost every other Dogs teammate is also surveying the art, AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon makes his way down, Victorian cricketer Peter Siddle walks his way through the room, while friends and colleagues from across AFL and AFLW competitions also show their support.
Even the host venue has an AFL connection. 'At The Above' is a gallery and concept space owned by West Coast's 2006 premiership player Tyson Stenglein which, together with his creative agency 'Space Between', works with likeminded artists and brands using their in-house studio to collaborate on exhibitions and campaigns.
"Cody got talking to my business partner and he really loved his energy and vibe and he saw some of his work and just thought it would be a nice fit as an emerging young artist. It sounded like it was for a great cause as well with 'Make A Wish', so we were more than happy to get involved and help out," Stenglein tells AFL.com.au.
Weightman's dedication to his art grew from a hobby to a genuine passion when he began repairing damaged surfboards at the age of 16, covering the repair work with his own creations and re-selling the boards to be used as interior décor.
However, after being drafted to the Western Bulldogs as a first-round pick back in 2019, he soon realised that housing more than 20 surfboards at a time in his small apartment wasn't viable. He began using a smaller canvas in the form of skateboards, with some of his best work to be on display across the upcoming weekend.
"I can get pretty busy with my thoughts in those weeks where there's a lot of attention on my footy and stuff. I tend to shy away a little bit from that. It's something that's really helped me and given me something to fixate on outside of footy," Weightman says.
"When it feels like there's pressure externally and stuff, it's a nice escape for me to have something else to focus on and lock into and I can put my headphones on and do art for hours. It's probably the only way I've really learnt how to not think about footy or not think about what people are saying about me.
"I didn't really know that was going to be a thing, but it's certainly become a passion more than a hobby. It's what I had with footy when I was a kid and when footy was all innocent and well. As footy loses that innocence and the scrutiny comes a lot more and stuff, it becomes more of a job. I've found with my art that it's the thing now that gives me a release and gives me my innocence back."
Weightman is now hopeful other athletes – even those in sports outside of the AFL and AFLW ecosystem – will get in touch with their own passions, with the impressive goalkicker keen to build 'Beyond The Game' into a bigger annual event encompassing even more skills and projects.
"It's nice to have something else. I think a lot of players are getting to a point now where they do have other things. That's a big part of the exhibition, exploring that and getting other players involved with their passions and their hobbies," Weightman says.
"Hopefully we can build this into an annual thing where athletes of any sport can show what they do off the field or off the court and expand the awareness that there's more to footy or more to life than our sport." 'Beyond The Game' runs from August 30 to September 1 at 'At The Above', 198 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy.
Dogs_R_Us
Space Traveller
Get down there! I’d love to hear all about it from one of our posters.
- Apr 5, 2016
- 8,140
- 18,691
- AFL Club
- Western Bulldogs
- Other Teams
- Boston Celtics
I'll be heading in over the weekend.
- May 23, 2019
- 12,044
- 29,485
- AFL Club
- Western Bulldogs
- Thread starter
- #469
Just under $40k earned for Make-A-Wish.
I was a wish recipient in my teens. It meant more to me than I can say in words almost two decades later. It also meant my family could have a well earned break and some wonderful experiences.
Thank you, Cody. You’ve changed lives.
I was a wish recipient in my teens. It meant more to me than I can say in words almost two decades later. It also meant my family could have a well earned break and some wonderful experiences.
Thank you, Cody. You’ve changed lives.
