Western Bulldogs forward Cody Weightman is backing teammate Ed Richards to have a breakout year.
After being taken with pick No. 16 in the 2017 National Draft, Richards has played 85 senior games with his best season coming in 2022.
Having achieved career-high averages in disposals (18.4), marks (5.9) and rebound 50s (3.7) last season, Weightman feels Richards will soon join the elite and even picked the dashing defender to soon become an All-Australian as he looks to take his game to the next level.
“I think Ed Richards will be wearing the (All-Australian) jacket next year,” Weightman told SEN Sportsday.
“Being able to play on him a fair bit over the last few years, I think he’s taken his game to another level again.
“He’s a very capable player, the maturity in his body, he’s a fully mature body, he’s so powerful and quick at the same time.
“He breaks the lines and I think the way we play really suits that, I think we’ve seen Caleb Daniel benefit off that and Bailey Dale.
“I think he’ll be the next one that steps up and plays that type of role where he breaks teams apart by foot and through taking the ball over the line.”
After finishing eighth in 2022, Weightman believes the Bulldogs have what it takes to go deeper this time around much like they did in 2021 where they played off in the Grand Final.
The small forward believes there are similarities emerging from that year as the Bulldogs enter 2023 fit and firing.
“I think there’s definitely some similarities (to 2021), I’d like to hope so,” Weightman said.
“I just feel like everyone’s on the same page, and we’re really committed to it.
“I think the pre-season has been harder in itself, the physical side of it, I think that’s promising and hopefully we can get some rewards out of that.
“The main one for mine is the rehab group, I’m with a few boys at the moment and the majority of us are three- or four-year players or under and none of those real crucial pieces to our puzzle.
“I think that’s going to give ourselves a chance a bit to hit the ground running, this time last year we were a bit beaten up.
“I think that’s going to give us a chance to have a real tilt again.”
Weightman says he’s no lock to play in Round 1 when the Bulldogs face Melbourne at the MCG on March 18.