Cody Weightman re-signs with Western Bulldogs until 2027 in a massive show of faith

The first thing Cody Weightman did on Tuesday morning was go give Luke Beveridge a hug. He tells SAM LANDSBERGER how much it meant to see his mentor stand up for him on TV on Monday night, and why it valiated his decision to re-sign.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 29: Cody Weightman of the Bulldogs celebrates kicking a goal during the round 16 AFL match between North Melbourne Kangaroos and Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium, on June 29, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Re-signed Western Bulldogs goalkicker Cody Weightman walked up to Luke Beveridge on Tuesday morning and gave him a hug.

“I really appreciated him standing up for me,” Weightman told this masthead.

“As players you don’t feel like you have a voice and you’ve just got to cop some stuff that comes your way.

“But for him to go into bat for me and say what I felt was quite nice. I certainly went up to him and thanked him for that.

“He’s someone that just backs us in as players and it’s so important to feel that.”

Weightman has re-signed with the Western Bulldogs until 2027 in a massive show of faith in the Bulldogs and in Beveridge, putting pen to paper on Sunday and announcing the decision on Wednesday.

It also followed a weekend of critics foolishly accusing him of milking two free kicks on Saturday.

But they were clear-cut frees and on Monday night on AFL360 Beveridge – in his words – “danced down the pitch” to smash those claims for six.

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge speaks to Cody Weightman during the huddle of a game in 2023. Picture: Matt King/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.

“What has he done wrong there? He’s been grabbed around the neck?” Beveridge said on AFL360.

“He’s got that much courage, and I’ll protect him and go into bat for him for however the day is long.

“He plays with a velocity and a courage like the best small forwards do in the game. That’s why he’s such a good player.

“We’re talking about a young fellow who has played with a dislocated elbow and three times that’s happened before he’s needed to fix it with surgery.”

Weightman is a star – not a stager – and he will continue to light up the Dogs forward line until at least 2027, as revealed by the Herald Sun.

Weightman is the AFL’s No. 1 player for goalkicking accuracy this season with the sharpshooter converting 20.4.

Livewire forward Cody Weightman has re-signed with the Western Bulldogs until the end of 2027. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images.

The sharpshooter’s return from his most recent dislocated elbow came almost three weeks early against Fremantle in the latest sign of his bravery.

He has undergone five surgeries in his short career but has played through pain repeatedly to help the Dogs.

Beveridge said on Monday that Weightman “almost falls off the threshold at the bravery end of the continuum” in a powerful interview on AFL360.

“We’re talking about a young fellow who has played with a dislocated elbow and three times that’s happened before he’s needed to fix it with surgery,” Beveridge said.

“He plays with a velocity and a courage like the best small forwards do in the game. That’s why he’s such a good player.”

“The elbow is the obvious one because it’s a bit gross and it pops out, but I’ve had five surgeries now,” Weightman said.

“I feel right now my body is actually quite healthy and I’m getting a decent run at it.

“It’s pretty normal players playing through injuries and then you get to the end of the year and get cut up pretty quickly and fixed.

“The ability to play through injuries – we saw ‘Bont’ (captain Marcus Bontempelli) on the weekend, a (back) spasm during the week and his ability to put that behind him and just play such good footy.

Cody Weightman has battled elbow injuries through his career but has repeatedly played through the pain for the better of the side. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images.

“That’s what the best players do, so it’s something I’m searching for in my game to not succumb to any injury and just play through stuff.”

Weightman, 23, was not due to fall out of contract until the end of 2025. But when the club offered a contract he was thrilled to jump the list management queue and on Sunday the ink dried on a deal that will take him through to free agency.

Weightman’s signature follows fellow goalkickers Aaron Naughton (2032) and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (2026) re-signing in the past 12 months.

“I hadn’t even thought about my next contract until it was brought up to me, so it’s a bonus to be able to get it done so early,” Weightman said.

“The last couple of times I’ve been fortunate enough that the club’s come a bit earlier and started communications about re-signing.

“That’s a blessing because you don’t have to worry about it that much.

“The club are obviously happy enough to give me that, and I’m really happy to stay so it was a bit of a no-brainer once the offer was there.

“I’m stoked to be staying at the kennel and pretty happy about it and settled in, so it’s nice to be calling it home for another three (years) at least.”

Both Cody Weightman and Aaron Naughton have reocmmitted to the Bulldogs. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images.

The Dogs head to Adelaide Oval – Weightman’s favourite venue, owing to the pre-entertainment and surface – to tackle the Power in a genuine eight-point game on Saturday.

“We’ve worked really hard to get ourselves to a position where we’re slightly ahead of the ledger now,” Weightman said.

“It comes down to wanting it or fearing it more and it feels like the group right now wants it more than we’re fearing it.

“We’ve got a pretty solid draw, which is exciting, too, because if we can get it done we feel we’ll go into finals with some confidence and some momentum.

“The prospect of winning a premiership he is real and alive.”

As for the unwanted attention this week?

Weightman said he was grateful to Beveridge. He “loves” playing for the only senior coach he has ever had.

“For me I just put my phone away and don’t consume much of that stuff,” Weightman said.

“But it is nice to have people back you up and make sure my side of the story is listened to.”