Dogs young gun boots four as fans rage over ‘ridiculous’ AFL farce

A Western Bulldogs young gun has ruined the Essendon fairytale but fans have been left furious over the calls that made it possible.

Cody Weightman took full advantage of the free kicks. Photo by Steve Bell/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

The Western Bulldogs have made the most of a controversial third quarter to book a place in the second week of the AFL finals following a 49-point blowout over the Essendon Bombers.

The 13.7 (85) to 4.12 (36) win may have seemed like a thrashing but Essendon were well in the game at halftime.

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It was only a three point ball game with the 5.4 (34) to 4.7 (31) Bulldogs lead showing how close the game truly was at the break as neither side would give any ground away.

Essendon was looking to end a 6302-day drought since their last finals win, dating all the way back to September 4, 2004.

But with the rain playing its part in a dire conditions where it was a battle of attrition, goals were going to be at a premium.

And the bounce of the ball went the Western Bulldogs’ way, with 20-year-old small forward Cody Weightman taking full advantage.

In a result that will earn him no fans outside Bulldogs faithful, the youngster booted four goals all from free kicks in the game, including the opening two of the third quarter, which broke the back of the Bombers.

He cashed in on some contentious calls, particularly for his fourth goal. Weightman was pushed over the boundary line in a rather innocuous moment, that Eddie McGuire said “was not a free kick”.

Cody Weightman kicked four. Photo by Steve Bell/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

“So a free kick is going to Weightman again,” James Brayshaw said. “This is extraordinary. This could be his fourth. In a really tight game.

“In a tight final in the wet, how is that a free kick? What is that for?”

Punters on social media fired up over the controversial calls, laying the blame at the umpires’ feet.

Cody Weightman is going to be loathed by opposition fans until about 2036. And I get the impression he loves that.

— Daniel Cherny 📰 (@DanielCherny) August 29, 2021

These free kicks to Weightman for goals are ridiculous. At least 3 out of the 4 normally wouldn’t be paid. Killed the game. #AFLbulldogsbombers

— Dave Hughes (@DHughesy) August 29, 2021

Umpires having some HOWLERS. It’s about the final it’s not about you. Just let the minor ones go. #AFLDogsDons

— Ryan Fitzgerald (@FitzySA) August 29, 2021

Cody Weightman should push into midfield next year… could win a Brownlow! Umpires love him. (I love him too) but jeezus #AFLFinals

— Brenton Speed (@BrentonSpeed) August 29, 2021

Sorry, two of them line ball, the other a blatant error https://t.co/44Pv0oxeJ3

— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) August 29, 2021

Others came to Weightman’s defence, as he merely played what was in front of him.

Former Hawthorn premiership star Jordan Lewis was one of his supporters.

“You’ve got to earn them – and he was in the spot. But you’ve also got to finish them – and that’s exactly what he did,” Lewis said.

Not having this chatter slandering Cody Weightman. He’s just a little surfer dude adrenaline junky who goes through life with a smile on his face. Yeah sure he got some absurd free kicks but that doesn’t make him the antichrist. Chill out bomber fans FFS. #afldogsdons

— Rory Flanagan (@Rory_Flanagan) August 29, 2021

Basil Zoccali added: “Btw don’t … start messaging or commenting on Cody Weightman’s social media accounts. A lot of things went wrong for the Bombers today besides those goals.”

Some commentators praised Weightman's positioning to earn his free kicks. On 3AW, Matthew Richardson said his involvements had been the difference.

“Cody Weightman has been involved in almost all of the Bulldogs goals so far,” he said. “He’s the man. He is shaping as the match winner.”

The Bulldogs celebrate as the Bombers ponder what could have been. Photo by Steve Bell/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

And for Essendon, they were their own worst enemies as well.

It was the first time since Geelong in 1956 that a team has gone without a goal in the second half of a finals game.

It was also the lowest score for Essendon in a final since 1908, according to Twitter account @Sirswampthing.

While the decisions may have started the rot, the Bombers had no answers as the Bulldogs kicked eight unanswered goals to move into week two, where the side will play the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba on Saturday night.

Originally published as Dogs young gun boots four as fans rage over ‘ridiculous’ AFL farce