Hunter Region's 'Alien Orbs' Were Just the Army Doing Its Job
Glowing orange orbs spotted over the NSW Hunter region triggered alien theories and apocalyptic jokes — until the local MP explained it was routine army training.
Patrick Donnelly Articles by Patrick Donnelly
Patrick Donnelly 
New rules, new finals: Everything changing in the AFL's biggest shake-up in years
The 2026 AFL season kicks off Thursday with the sport's most sweeping changes in decades, including a new wildcard finals round and the end of a 139-year tradition.
Patrick Donnelly 
Warzone Goes Back to Its Roots With Black Ops Royale Mode
Warzone's Season 2 Reloaded update brings Black Ops Royale — a stripped-back battle royale mode inspired by Black Ops 4's Blackout — launching March 12.
Patrick Donnelly 
Dillon Eyes Olympic Stage for Aussie Rules at Brisbane 2032
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon has flagged ambitions to get Australian rules football onto the Brisbane 2032 Olympic programme, speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald on the eve of the 2026 season.
Patrick Donnelly 
Dillon Plants His Flag: Opening Round and Origin Are Here to Stay
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon has firmly backed the Opening Round format and revived State of Origin concept, citing record attendance figures and a sold-out Origin clash in Perth.
Patrick Donnelly 
V'landys bets big on Vegas as NRL sets sights on global round
ARL Commission chair Peter V'landys insists Las Vegas is just the beginning, with a three-year plan for a full global round already in motion after a record 2026 crowd.
Patrick Donnelly 
End of an Era: Steven May's Sudden Exit Leaves Demons in New Territory
Steven May has retired from AFL after 251 games, leaving Melbourne to rebuild on and off the field just days before the 2026 season begins.
Patrick Donnelly 
Tudor's Referee Fury Can't Mask Tottenham's Deepening Crisis
Spurs coach Igor Tudor labelled referee Thomas Bramall a 'home team referee' after a 2-1 loss at Fulham extended Tottenham's winless Premier League run to ten games.
Patrick Donnelly 
Steven May Calls Time on AFL Career With Season Days Away
Steven May has retired from AFL after 251 games, ending a career that included a drought-breaking 2021 premiership with Melbourne.
Patrick Donnelly 
Ponga Hits the Jackpot as Brown's Las Vegas Debut Breaks Even
Newcastle beat North Queensland 28-18 in Las Vegas, with Kalyn Ponga starring and Dylan Brown showing promise in his debut as the NRL's richest-ever player.
Patrick Donnelly 
Steven May Hangs Up the Boots After 251 Games and One Unforgettable Flag
Steven May has retired from AFL with immediate effect, ending a 251-game career days before Melbourne's 2026 season begins amid personal difficulties off the field.
Patrick Donnelly 
Iran's Women Play On as Nation Reels from Khamenei's Death
Iran's women's football team faces South Korea on the Gold Coast tomorrow night as news of Supreme Leader Khamenei's death reshapes their tournament backdrop.
Patrick Donnelly 
Kerr's milestone header fires Matildas to hard-fought Asian Cup win
Sam Kerr scored her 70th Matildas goal as Australia opened the 2026 Women's Asian Cup with a 1-0 win over the Philippines at Perth Stadium.
Patrick Donnelly 
Kerr Delivers, But Matildas Leave Perth With Questions Unanswered
Sam Kerr's 70th international goal settled the opener at Perth Stadium, but the Matildas' failure to convert dominant possession into a bigger scoreline raised early concerns.
Patrick Donnelly 
Townsville Fire Claim Fifth WNBL Title in Overtime Thriller
Townsville Fire won their fifth WNBL championship and second in four years, beating Perth Lynx 108-105 in overtime in a game that produced 41 lead changes.
Patrick Donnelly 
Blood, Bruises and a Cumbrian's Promise to the NRL
New Dolphins recruit Morgan Knowles bled on debut and kept fighting, channelling the mentorship of NRL legend James Graham as he bids to make his mark at Redcliffe.
Patrick Donnelly 
Meet Mr. Windychu and Ms. Wavychu, Pokémon's Most Gloriously Silly New Characters
Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves were revealed at a Pokémon Presents, but fans can't stop talking about the two vacation-ready Pikachus with the most ridiculous official names in franchise history.
Patrick Donnelly 
Microsoft Plans to Auto-Open Copilot Every Time You Click an Outlook Link
Microsoft is set to auto-launch its Copilot AI pane in Edge whenever users click Outlook links, sparking privacy and enterprise security concerns ahead of a May 2026 rollout.
Patrick Donnelly 
Luki Bulldozes Injured Sharpe to Open Cowboys' Account
Heilum Luki scored North Queensland's first try by running over an injured Fletcher Sharpe in a dramatic early passage of play.
Patrick Donnelly 
Victoria's AFL Grip is Slipping as Northern Clubs Rise
Thirteen premierships across 17 seasons made Victorian AFL clubs the era's defining force. In 2026, that era looks firmly finished.
Patrick Donnelly