The Western Bulldogs' injury woes have continued, with star forward Cody Weightman set to miss the first half of the season due to knee surgery.
Weightman has struggled through the pre-season with a rare congenital condition called bipartite patella, a false joint that sits within his kneecap.
Bulldogs' medicine boss Chris Bell has revealed surgery was the best way to combat the issue.
โThis injury has not caused Cody any concerns across his career until he received some direct impact on it during a pre-season training session,โ said Bell in a club update.
โConservative management has failed to improve Cody's symptoms, meaning surgery has become the best option.โ
โA return to play plan will be finalised in coming weeks, with Cody set to miss the next three months.โ
The Western Bulldogs have struggled this pre-season with multiple injury concerns, including a calf injury to midfielder Adam Treloar and hamstring issues for both Liam Jones and Jason Johannisen.
The Dogs' forward line, in particular, has been heavily disrupted this summer, with their 2024 leading goalkicker Jamarra Ugle-Hagan tipped to miss the early rounds of this season as he deals with personal issues.
Weightman has been electric for the Dogs up forward, kicking 61 goals in the last two seasons - a figure only beaten by Ugle-Hagan and Aaron Naughton.
An interrupted pre-season is exactly what head coach Luke Beveridge didn't want, with the out-of-contract coach conceding that pressure has been building internally at the Kennel.
โWe put internal pressure on ourselves to come up to a standard again. All that does is create something that is healthy, but it is a challenge," Beveridge said in a behind-the-scenes video on the Bulldog's website.
โWe have got to help each other get to where we know where we may be able to.โ
