There was raw emotion and pure joy at the MCG on Friday night with Western Bulldogs’ comeback kid Cody Weightman in tears before and after the pulsating clash with Hawthorn.

The talented forward missed all of last season with a rare congenital knee condition but was rushed back into the team that came from behind to stun the Hawks by a goal in a thrilling boilover.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Cody Weightman emotional after return game

After the game, Weightman was grinning from ear to ear, but also a little tearful.

In fact, he admitted that he was brought to tears when reading a “notebook” from his mother ahead of the game, and simply had to put it down.

“I actually got given that notebook today and I started reading it and I started crying,” Weightman told Channel 7 after the game.

“I’m like, I don’t need this pre-game.”

The Western Bulldogs shared part of the emotional words from his mother on social media.

“Cody, my heart broke the day I picked you up after your second operation. You hugged me so tightly, and you told me it was the worst pain you’d ever felt, the worst night of your life,” Nicole Weightman wrote.

“Footy is your passion. I knew nothing would stop you.

“You’ve supported others and led with strength, even when you were the one hurting. That kind of resilience isn’t something you can teach, it’s something you are.

“I am in awe of you.

“Enjoy every second of it. Every step on that ground is earned.

“I love you more than any of this can say. Super proud, Mum.”

Star Seven commentator Abbey Holmes called it a “beautiful letter” while Weightman confessed it was hard to get through.

“I haven’t actually read it all, but I did bring it,” Weightman told Channel 7.

“So I’ll get in the locker room now and I’ll flick through that as the night goes on.”

Weightman was effusive in his praise for his family’s unwavering support, crediting them as instrumental in helping him through a very challenging period.

“I’m so blessed with my family. If I lived ever again, I’d pick them every time,” he said.

“Mum, Dad, Jake, Ricky, Molly, I’m so lucky to have them. The best family.”

Weightman said he had been uncertain if he would ever get to step out onto an AFL field again.

“I haven’t actually reflected much because I feel like I’ll get a bit emotional,” he told Channel 7.

“It was really nice. I thought I’d be really nervous today but I was actually pretty calm ... kind of felt like I had nothing to lose given I didn’t know if I do this again.

“I’m (normally) pretty anxious before games so it was nice not to be anxious for once.”

Watching vision of himself running out onto the MCG, Weightman beamed and said “that’s cool”.

“I mean it’s a tough sport when you’re injured and, umm, it’s really good ... I don’t even know what to say ... it’s just awesome.”

Coach Luke Beveridge said getting Weightman back was “sensational” and scoffed at people who had suggested he should have returned through the VFL.

“If we had have played him tomorrow against Box Hill there’s no way he’s coming up for the Adelaide game ... So people just need to do their homework.” Beveridge said

Beveridge said critics needed to understand how highly the club rated and admired the talented Weightman.

“He’s just so courageous,” Beveridge said.

“As the game went on, he might not have touched the ball as much as he did in the first half ... we played him more forward in the second half ... and he had his impact.”

Unfortunately Weightman did not hit the scoreboard but he finished the night with 11 disposals and 14 pressure acts from 69 per cent time on ground.