Cody Weightman is grateful for the impact a former AFL small forward has had on his Western Bulldogs career to date.
The 22-year-old Bulldog spent time living with former Essendon and Port Adelaide forward Angus Monfries in the early stages of his playing days.
Monfries, 36, played briefly for the Dogs at VFL level while holding a development coaching role with the club prior to Weightman’s draft year in 2019.
After playing 211 games and kicking 248 goals for the Bombers and Power, Monfries turned mentor for some of the young Dogs which Weightman has been appreciative of.
“I’ve graduated from 'Gussy’s' place now, I’m out, I’ve run away,” Weightman said on SEN’s Sportsday.
“He had a great impact on me. I moved in with Gussy after being drafted back in 2019 and spent a couple of years there.
“He was obviously quite a good fit considering he played a similar type role at Port and Essendon. He arguably maybe taught me more off-field than on-field.
“I was very grateful to have him take me under the wing. It’s hard to pass on stuff without having done it yourself, particularly with stuff like social media and the criticism. The stuff where you can reference him and have someone you know you can call at any time.
“He was really good to bounce off and now we’ve got a really good relationship and I still regularly see him. I go cray diving and whatnot with him.
“I’m pretty grateful the club organised me to go and live with him and Riley Garcia. All three of us have a really good relationship.”
Monfries is not the only AFL small forward that Weightman has sought education from.
Sydney Sans gun Tom Papley is a player the 40-game, 65-goal Doggies excitement machine watches closely, particularly when he changes it up and moves into the midfield.
“I’ve watched a lot of his edits of when he spits through the middle,” Weightman added.
“He’s got some things I’m definitely planning on stealing. He’s an unbelievable player and I really like the way he goes about it.
“Even with his energy and stuff, you can tell his teammates really feed off that. Whether you look into that too much, I don’t know, but for me I feel like it does help shift the game in the team’s favour.
“He’s someone I do a lot of edits on. Particularly with mid stuff over the break, I’ve been catching up with a mate of mine and going through some edits to make sure I can steal whatever I can out of his game because he’s obviously a star of the competition.”
Weightman, who has been battling an adductor strain, is facing a race against time to prove his fitness for the Bulldogs’ season opener against Melbourne at the MCG on March 18.
“I’M NOT A LOCK”: BULLDOGS FORWARD OFFERS INJURY UPDATE AHEAD OF ROUND 1