Western Bulldogs small ahead Cody Weightman is within the highlight as soon as once more for some of the frowned upon acts within the AFL.
Since making his debut in 2021, Weightman has been accused various instances for diving or staging to win free kicks.
The 22-year-old was at it once more throughout Saturday night time’s slender seven-point loss to the Suns on the Gold Coast.
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Herald-Sun journalist Jon Ralph tweeted a video of 1 incident, writing Weightman “has to get this out of his game”.
“Just milks too many free kicks. Totally invented contact.”
The tweet was producing loads of feedback, together with from footy fan and former NBL coach Brendan Joyce, who replied “Agree … Ralphy. 4th umpire just trying to be relevant!”
Joyce wasn’t the one one laying the blame on the umpires somewhat than Weightman.
“He’s known for staging so why are the umpires falling for it and paying the free kicks?” wrote one Twitter person in reply.
“Totally agree,” wrote one other. “Has he been watching Lebron’s flopping in the NBA perhaps.”
Weightman, decide No.15 within the 2019 AFL draft, has kicked 74 targets in his 47 video games thus far and confirmed an everyday risk within the Bulldogs’ ahead line.
But his staging free of charge kicks has been a recurring subject for the younger Bulldog.
Weightman was labelled “the boy who cries wolf” by Ralph and warned “he’s making life difficult for himself” by former Melbourne ahead Garry Lyon in June final 12 months for staging incidents in a recreation in opposition to Geelong.
Another nice key ahead, three-time premiership winner Jonathan Brown, additionally weighed in on the difficulty at the moment.
“The football gods will get you, more specifically the umpires will get you,” Brown mentioned.
“Umpires are warned pre-game by what players have a tendency and Weightman has a tendency for accentuated contact. Umpires are aware of that.
“So what happens when he may have gotten a free kick there, the umpire has put the whistle away.”
Weightman has been quizzed about his diving up to now, stating his perception it was a talent, somewhat than a blight on the sport.
“I think I do have an ability to draw free kicks and I think that’s a skillset rather than a ‘flop’ or whatever you call that,” Weightman mentioned on SEN Breakfast in April final 12 months.
“There are skills you can do, whether it’s taking the ball when you’re about to get tackled or ball control, so you don’t actually have possession and test out the defender if they’re going to grab it or not.
“There is a skill to it and people won’t see that, but I think there’s a deeper understanding that goes into it.
“I know there’s a lot of support out there for me as well which is super amazing, I’m very grateful for everyone who does see the work we put in and see us in a shining light rather than a dim light.”
Originally printed as Western Bulldogs ahead Cody Weightman’s serial AFL subject raises its head as soon as extra
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
