Western Bulldogs Coach Defends Cody Weightman Amid Free Kick Controversy

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has passionately defended forward Cody Weightman amid controversy over the free kicks he received during Saturday's win against North Melbourne. Here's a summary of the heated discussion and key points.

Key Points

Controversy Overview

Incident: Weightman received several free kicks in the game against North Melbourne.
Opponent's View: North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson suggested the umpires were being "milked" for frees.

Beveridge's Defense

Key Argument: Weightman was simply trying to escape illegal tackles.
Examples Cited: Highlighted specific incidents where Weightman was grabbed around the head.

Debate Highlights

Mark Robinson's View: Questioned the validity of some free kicks.
Beveridge's Response: Strongly defended Weightman and criticized the questioning.

Detailed Insights

Controversy Overview

During the game against North Melbourne, Cody Weightman received several free kicks, leading to comments from North Melbourne's coach Alastair Clarkson about players "milking" free kicks. This sparked a heated debate, particularly on AFL 360.

Beveridge's Defense

Luke Beveridge passionately defended Weightman, arguing that the free kicks were justified and that Weightman was unfairly targeted by critics.

Head Injury Incident: Weightman was caught high by Jackson Archer, prompting a free kick.
Escape from Tackles: Beveridge emphasized that Weightman was simply trying to escape illegal holds.

"All he’s done is try to get out of a headlock! And yet he’s been criticized for it. Are you serious?" Beveridge exclaimed.

Debate Highlights

The debate became intense when AFL 360 host Mark Robinson questioned some of the free kicks.

Speaker	Comment
Mark Robinson	"The example when Archer’s put his hands up and he’s stuck his sort of head under the arm, I thought that was an old forward pocket..."
Luke Beveridge	"The one off the ball? He’s grabbed him around the head off the ball... It’s a blatant off the ball incident and it’s not a free kick? Are you serious?"

Beveridge accused the media of baiting Clarkson into making comments about Weightman and defended his player's courage and integrity.

"He’s a star, he’s got that much courage and I’ll protect him and go into bat for him for however the day is long," Beveridge stated.

Conclusion

Luke Beveridge's strong defense of Cody Weightman highlights the ongoing debate about free kicks and player behavior in the AFL. The passionate exchange between Beveridge and Robinson underscores the intensity of opinions on this issue. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how such controversies are handled by coaches, players, and the AFL.