Cody Weightman Biography

Cody Weightman is on the cusp of making a long-awaited return after 20 months on the sidelines.

Weightman hasn't played since the 2024 elimination final loss to Hawthorn due to a nightmare run of operations on his knee, stemming from a rare congenital condition called bipartite patella.

The 25-year-old has completed full training across May and now the club is favoured to bring him straight back in at AFL level over the next fortnight.

Cody Weightman is facing a delayed start to the 2026 season after missing all of last year due to the complex kneecap injury that has stalled his career.

Weightman hasn't played since the 2024 elimination final loss to Hawthorn after first injuring his knee early last pre-season and has spent the summer training away from the main group at the Whitten Oval.

Weightman ran for the first time in 331 days last week at 70 per cent bodyweight on the AlterG treadmill and is now up to 80 per cent bodyweight, with a focus on quad strength. The plan is for the livewire forward to run on grass in early February and then build up his conditioning and skills work outdoors.

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge confirms that Cody Weightman has been ruled out for the year.

Weightman has not played at all in 2025, undergoing surgery in February for the rare congenital knee issue, bipartite patella, which is caused by having a false joint within his kneecap.

"We won't get 'Flea' Weightman back now this year, we've just got to get used to that," Beveridge said.

"Now he's processed the fact he's not going to play, he's not relieved, because he'd love to play, but he's OK, got peace of mind. Now he knows what he can do in the meantime. He'll probably have another surgery between now and the end of the year, that'll happen in the not-so-distant future.

"But as you'd expect, he's such a great human being, he wants to know what his role is off-field, he wants to know how he can help. So, we've got to find something for him."

Cody Weightman will require further knee surgery after scans revealed damage to his kneecap.

Cody Weightman is set to undergo knee surgery which will sideline him for three months, causing him to miss the start of the 2025 season.

Weightman has a rare congenital condition called bipartite patella, which involves a false joint that sits within his kneecap bone.

The Western Bulldogs re-sign Cody Weightman until the end of 2027.

"When the option presented that I could sign on and stay here it was a simple choice for me and I am really pumped by it," Weightman said.

"We’ve got great history that shows we can damage really late in the season, hopefully we can find our best footy in the next few weeks and give ourselves a chance at September."

Cody Weightman will be sidelined for at least the next six weeks after dislocating his elbow in the Bulldogs' loss to Fremantle in Perth.

Cody Weightman kicks a career-high six goals in his 50th game against North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium.

Cody Weightman is set for a few weeks on the sidelines after breaking his collarbone following a collision with Power big man Sam Hayes.

Cody Weightman has developed a cult following among Western Bulldogs fans but still doesn't feel as though he's cemented his spot in the team's line-up.

Since breaking into the team with a three-goal haul against Port Adelaide in round nine, Weightman has played seven consecutive games, culminating in a career-best four goals against North Melbourne last Sunday.

"I like to have the mindset that I'm not (cemented in the team) because I think that's when I play my best football, when I'm not complacent and I'm doing the desperate stuff," he said.

"I like to hope that I've done a few good things now that have given me a little bit of credit that might keep me in the team, but at the same time I'm approaching it as if I'm playing for my life each week."

Cody Weightman earns the 2021 round 10 NAB AFL Rising Star nomination after gathering 14 disposals kicking 2 goals in the Bulldogs' 111-point win over the Saints.

"The work that Cody's done on his game over the last six months has really paid dividends the last six or seven weeks," Bulldogs' development manager Jamie Maddocks said.

"He's been super consistent and it's great to see him getting his opportunity and taking it with both hands."

Cody Weightman makes his AFL debut for the Western Bulldogs with 9 disposals (5 kicks and 4 handballs), 3 marks and 2 goals in a 42-point win over Essendon.

Draft prospect Cody Weightman says Jack Higgins is a mentor and an inspiration for him.

The pair became close friends through a mutual acquaintance in the sports industry, and Weightman still talks weekly to the young Richmond midfielder.

"His training standards are elite. It's something I try to copy and put into my game," he said.

"He's had people critique him in a lot of ways and he hasn't taken a bar of any of it. He's just forged his own path. We all have people who might doubt us but the way he's gone about it and used it as motivation is something I do as well now."