Bulldogs’ Troubles Deepen as Star Forward Faces ‘Rare’ Condition, Likely to Miss Half the Season

Cody Weightman, the dynamic forward for the Western Bulldogs, will be out of action for a minimum of three months due to the diagnosis of a “rare” knee condition.

The 24-year-old star will undergo surgery to address a congenital issue known as bipartite patella, as confirmed by the Bulldogs on Monday.

This condition is characterised by a false joint located within the kneecap.

Initially, the Bulldogs had hoped that Weightman could manage the condition without surgery, but he will now require an operation, missing roughly half of the AFL season.

Chris Bell, the Bulldogs’ head of medical, explained, “Cody has not experienced any issues from this injury throughout his career, but sustained a direct impact during a pre-season training session.”

“Efforts to manage Cody’s symptoms conservatively have not succeeded, making surgery the best course of action,” Bell added. “Given the rarity of this presentation, the club has sought multiple specialist opinions, leading to the decision to surgically stabilise the joint in the kneecap as the most feasible option for Cody’s return to football in the latter half of the 2025 season.”

“A comprehensive return-to-play strategy will be established in the weeks ahead, with Cody expected to be out for three months.”

This unfortunate news regarding Weightman compounds the selection issues facing the Bulldogs as they prepare for their season opener against North Melbourne on March 15.

Alongside Weightman, Adam Treloar (calf), Liam Jones (hamstring), and Jason Johannisen (hamstring) will also be unavailable at the start of the season, while promising young forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is currently on personal leave.