The two changes for Friday night's MCG clash are massive, with Hawthorn also losing in-form forward Jack Gunston to his ongoing foot injury.
Gunston was benched for the final quarter of last Thursday night's win over St Kilda. The All-Australian had kicked six goals and the match was over.
Defender Tom Barrass (hamstring) and Conor Nash (neck) also have not recovered in time for the Hawks, with Bodie Ryan taking Gunston's place.
Gunston had returned for the Saints win after missing the previous two games.
A rare congenital knee condition sidelined Weightman for all of last year. His last game for the Bulldogs was the season-ending 2024 elimination final.
Despite being out for so long, coach Luke Beveridge was happy for Weightman to return without any VFL games.
"They (Weightman's teammates) definitely will get a spiritual lift. Some teammates just get inside your bones a little bit more than others, where you know how much they care for you," Beveridge said on Thursday.
"They know they want you to play as well as you can, even before their own performance, and Cody's that kind of human being. He's just a really special young man.
"Because of that care factor and the investment in others, they know what it means to have him as part of our team."
Beveridge added he had tried to ease any anxiety Weightman might have about what would be expected of him.
"(But) he's too good a player not to introduce straight away. Sometimes you have to think about the game as a pretty simple operation - instincts, courage and determination and ferocity at the ball usually wins the day," Beveridge said.
"He has spades of all of that, so we're looking forward to seeing him out there on the 'G tomorrow night.
"Feed the team with what you're good at and if those things (goals) come, we'll watch those roses bloom if they happen."
Weightman's comeback is timely, with the Bulldogs' injury woes starting to ease and their four-game losing streak behind them.
They have won three of their last four, but Hawthorn are also in strong form and have a five-game winning streak against the Dogs.
Their most recent win was at Gather Round in April and it started the Bulldogs' four-game slide.
"Their connection is as strong as any team and ... they have our measure at the moment. They're aware of it, we're aware of it," Beveridge said.
An upset win over the Hawks would trigger another wave of social media videos, showing someone from behind who looks very much like Beveridge, dancing at a wedding.
He was asked whether it is, indeed, him.
"I have seen it. If I go to a private function, like that event, I normally have my second watch on. That's all I will say," Beveridge said.
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