Western Bulldogs star Cody Weightman recently opened up about the disturbing messages he received after a particularly heated finals campaign in 2021, shedding light on the often brutal world that athletes face off the field.
In a candid conversation on the Howie Games Artist Series alongside Christian Petracca and Izak Rankine ahead of his Beyond The Game Exhibition, Weightman shared how his direct messages became a battleground of hate following a game against Essendon in 2021.
“It’s a pretty crazy world in the request section of your DMs,” he admitted, describing what athletes face when checking their messages. Despite knowing the potential for negativity, the temptation to see what’s been said can be overwhelming.
Weightman revealed that among the usual banter, he was bombarded with death threats and even more chilling messages—some sending the coordinates of the Westgate Bridge, urging him to “jump off” and end his life.
“I was 20 or 21 then,” he told The Howie Games. “It was crazy, people were nearly trying to bash me in public for a few months. It just shows how much people love footy and are passionate, which I admire, but it can feel overwhelming at times.”
The emotional toll of these messages was significant, but Weightman has found ways to cope, including turning to his art as a form of expression and release. “I probably express myself that way and what I’m feeling, and it’s a nice way to get something out of me and put it onto a canvas or whatever it is.”
“These things just take time,” he said. “It feels hectic for a week or two, and then it sort of just cools off, and you’re all right, and you’re playing footy again.”