Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020

Cody Weightman will make his long-awaited Western Bulldogs return against Hawthorn at the MCG on Friday night after missing all of last season with a rare congenital knee condition.

The forward has not played since the Western Bulldogs’ 2024 elimination final, but coach Luke Beveridge has backed him to come straight into the AFL side without a VFL comeback match.

For more AFL news, read Fremantle Dockers Recall Hayden Young For North Melbourne Clash In Bunbury.

Western Bulldogs Welcome Back Weightman

Weightman’s return arrives at a useful time for the Western Bulldogs, who have won three of their past four matches after ending a four-game losing run.

"They (Weightman's teammates) definitely will get a spiritual lift. Some teammates just get inside your bones a little bit more than others, where you know how much they care for you," Beveridge said on Thursday.

"They know they want you to play as well as you can, even before their own performance, and Cody's that kind of human being. He's just a really special young man.

"Because of that care factor and the investment in others, they know what it means to have him as part of our team."

Beveridge said he had tried to calm any nerves around Weightman’s return, but felt the forward’s natural game was enough to bring him straight back.

"(But) he's too good a player not to introduce straight away. Sometimes you have to think about the game as a pretty simple operation - instincts, courage and determination and ferocity at the ball usually wins the day," Beveridge said.

Hawthorn Lose Jack Gunston

Hawthorn will be without Jack Gunston after his ongoing foot injury flared again following last Thursday night’s win over St Kilda.

Gunston had kicked six goals before sitting out the final quarter, while Tom Barrass and Conor Nash have also failed to recover in time. Bodie Ryan comes into the Hawthorn side, with official match updates available through the AFL website.

The Western Bulldogs know Hawthorn have had the better of them recently, including a Gather Round win in April that sparked the Bulldogs’ four-game slide.

"Their connection is as strong as any team and ... they have our measure at the moment. They're aware of it, we're aware of it," Beveridge said.