Injury-plagued Western Bulldogs forward Cody Weightman has celebrated a significant milestone in his recovery, returning to regular running surrounded by supportive teammates during Monday's training session.
A Long Road Back from Complex Knee Injuries
The 25-year-old goalsneak has not played an AFL match since September 2024 after being struck down by a series of complex knee injuries that have tested his resilience and determination. Weightman has endured five separate surgeries and battled persistent infections throughout his rehabilitation, with the talented forward admitting he feared he might never return to the elite level of Australian Rules football.
Rocky-Style Moment at Whitten Oval
In an emotional moment captured at Whitten Oval, Bulldogs teammates lined up on either side of Weightman and cheered enthusiastically as he set off on his running journey, creating a scene reminiscent of a Rocky training montage. This marked the first time in twelve months that Weightman has been able to put one foot in front of the other on natural grass, representing a crucial psychological and physical breakthrough.
The forward's rehabilitation journey began with intensive work on the Alter-G anti-gravity treadmill over the summer months, gradually building strength and confidence before transitioning to outdoor running this week.
The Bizarre Injury That Started It All
Weightman's medical battles commenced nearly a year ago when he underwent initial surgery following a bipartite patella diagnosis, a condition where the kneecap fails to fuse properly during development.
"This could be the weirdest injury I've encountered," Weightman told SEN radio at the time. "I've been a bit unlucky unfortunately and collected a fair few surgeries now in my short career so far. It's a bit of a genetic one connected to a knock I got around Christmas time and unfortunately had to go under the knife."
Complex Surgical Procedures
The surgical intervention proved remarkably complex, requiring:
- A bone graft from Weightman's hip to repair missing bone in his knee
- Two surgical pins inserted through parts of the knee to reconnect structures
- Additional surgery on the knee cap later in 2024 after a scan in May ruled him out for the season
This wasn't Weightman's first significant injury setback either, with the forward previously missing time in 2024 with a troublesome dislocated elbow that continued to bother him even after his initial return to play.
Realistic Timeline for Return
While the emotional return to running represents a major victory, medical staff and club officials caution that Weightman is not expected to be available for selection until well into the 2026 AFL campaign. The former first-round draft pick, who averages better than 1.5 goals per game across his career, faces many more months of careful rehabilitation before he can contemplate competitive football again.
For now, simply being back on the training track and progressing along the recovery pathway provides immense relief for both the player and the Western Bulldogs organization, who have supported him through this challenging period.
