Western Bulldogs forward Cody Weightman is no certainty for Round 1 after suffering an adductor strain this summer.
While reports had Weightman in line for a return after completing a main training session last week, the small forward didn’t play in the club’s practice match win over North Melbourne.
Weightman says he hopes his adductor comes good before Round 1 to give himself the chance to be picked for the club’s season-opener against Melbourne.
“It looked like the boys gelled together really nicely (against North Melbourne) and the forwards filled their boots a bit, which is nice preparation going into the clash against the Dees,” Weightman told SEN Sportsday.
“I’m excited about (that game against Melbourne) even though I’m not a lock to be playing in it, I’m still looking forward to it.
“The adductor is coming along well, I think I’m starting to get on top of it which is good.
“They can be tricky these types of niggles, there’s no particular deadline like a broken arm where you know it’ll be healed at a certain time.
“I’m just being patient and letting it heal to come good when it feels like it.
“Hopefully that’s prior to Round 1 and I can be out there.”
While from the outside looking in a fit Weightman appears to be a walk-up starter for coach Luke Beveridge, the 22-year-old doesn’t share that mindset.
The energetic goalsneak says he doesn’t want complacency to creep in by believing a spot has his name on it as he feels that gives him an edge to compete hard each and every game.
“I’ve always tried to hold onto that mindset, even when I was pretty confident that my spot was going to be sustained throughout last year and a bit the year before,” Weightman said.
“I think going into games feeling like you have to play for your spot and you have to maintain that you’ve earned that.
“If you get complacent you get found out pretty quickly in the AFL, so going in with an edge and feeling like your spot is never secured and always earned is important for me.
“I think when we review my game that sort of comes out in my edits that I play with desperation.
“My teammates feel they can feed off that (energy) which is obviously good as well.”
Weightman will hope to be passed fit and be named to play when the Western Bulldogs face Melbourne in a Round 1 clash at the MCG on March 18.