Washing machine appliance and damper assembly for same

A washing machine appliance, comprising:

• a cabinet;
• a tub disposed within the cabinet;
• and
• a damper assembly, the damper assembly comprising:
• a cylinder defining a central longitudinal axis, the cylinder comprising a sidewall that defines an interior, the sidewall defining a central bore and a first pocket concentrically surrounding the central bore, the sidewall comprising an upper shoulder and a lower shoulder that each connect the first pocket and the central bore, the sidewall further defining a second pocket concentrically surrounding the first pocket and further comprising an upper shoulder and a lower shoulder that each connect the second pocket and the first pocket, the second pocket having a length that is less than the length of the first pocket;
• a piston partially disposed in the central bore and movable along the longitudinal axis relative to the cylinder;
• a first tube assembly concentrically surrounding the piston and at least partially disposed in the first pocket, the first tube assembly having a length that is less than a length of the first pocket;
• and
• a second tube assembly concentrically surrounding the first tube assembly and at least partially disposed in the second pocket, the second tube assembly having a length that is less than a length of the second pocket,
• wherein the piston is further movable along the longitudinal axis relative to the first tube assembly.