Western Bulldogs’ Cody Weightman takes mark of the year contender

The AFL world was stunned when Western Bulldogs small forward Cody Weightman took an absolute screamer against Melbourne.

Western Bulldogs small forward Cody Weightman has taken an incredible contender for mark of the year during the Dogs’ blockbuster clash with Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday night.

The livewire small forward stunned the football world when he took a genuine specky during the third quarter of the match between the premiership fancies.

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As the ball travelled down the wing at the MCG, Weightman climbed on top of the shoulders of Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn, getting some serious hang time and taking the ball cleanly before tumbling back to the turf.

“Weightman! What about that climb!,” Channel 7 commentator James Brayshaw exclaimed.

“Tiny little man just sat on Max’s head!”

WHAT DID WE JUST WITNESS?#AFLDeesDogspic.twitter.com/yuCfmJQ3Rs

— AFL (@AFL) July 24, 2021

Making the feat even more impressive was Weightman’s follow-up work after he had taken one of the marks of the year.

After passing off the ball, the 20-year-old drifted inside the Bulldogs’ forward 50 and crumbed the ball from a contest and kicked a goal.

Cody Weightman took an absolute beauty over Melbourne's Max Gawn. (Photo: Michael Wilson)

He used Max Gawn as a step ladder. (Photo: Michael Wilson)

Fans were stunned by Weightman’s effort and were immediately calling it one of the marks of the year.

The mark will definitely be a contender for the end-of-season award, along with Richmond’s Shai Bolton hanger earlier in the year, while Jack Riewoldt’s courageous mark running back with the flight of the ball into a pack will also be tough to beat.

Weightman! There's a fourth contender for Mark of the Year! #AFLDeesDogs

— Rohan Connolly (@rohan_connolly) July 24, 2021

That's a stunning mark from Weightman.
Talk about next level. #AFLDeesDogs

— Alex Fair (@AJFair85) July 24, 2021

Play of the year Cody Weightman!

— Adam Curley (@AdamCurley0799) July 24, 2021

Cody weightman is pure joy

— Bob Murphy (@BobMurphy02) July 24, 2021

Fans were also quick to notice it wasn’t the first time Gawn’s 208cm frame had been used as a step-ladder to take an incredible grab.

West Coast small forward Liam Ryan won mark of the year in 2019 after leaping on top of Gawn.

Why is it always on Max Gawn 😂 pic.twitter.com/40Gw8V1QdQ

— 7AFL (@7AFL) July 24, 2021

Big Maxy forever the step ladder in MOTY contenders. Poor fella. #AFLDeesDogs

— Jack Hudson (@jhudson_10) July 24, 2021

He’s a gun, but I can’t think of another player who’s more consistently used as a step ladder for a hanger than Max Gawn.

— Charlie Clausen (@CXClausen) July 24, 2021

“It’s probably a bit silly in the wet trying to jump on the ruckman but it worked, so it’s a bit of a bonus,” Weightman told Channel 7 after the game.

He was understandably ecstatic with the mark when describing it later.

“I normally sort of just jump at the footy and fortunately enough he (Gawn) got in my way,” Weightman told Fox Footy.

“I didn’t see it was him or I probably wouldn’t have tried it. But yeah, he sort of held me up to get my face in it.

“It was a weird one, I had a bit more time and could take in a little bit more than normal.”

It was an arm-wrestle between the two top-four sides, with the Bulldogs just getting the upper hand in the closing stages thanks to a monster last quarter from Marcus Bontempelli.

The Bulldogs captain kicked a critical goal and set up another to seal a 20-point victory.

The 13.7 (85) to 9.11 (65) result sees the Dogs leapfrog the Demons into top spot on the AFL ladder.