competitive spirit

In the wake of a career-defining performance at the ITM Taupō Super 440, Kiwi driver Matt Payne has declared his weekend victory in New Zealand the most complete and satisfying of his motorsport career. The 22-year-old Penrite Racing talent delivered a standout showing in front of a home crowd, collecting two race wins, a pole position, and the prestigious Jason Richards Memorial Trophy.

In a contest brimming with pace and pressure, Collingwood's seasoned maestro Steele Sidebottom orchestrated a clinical performance to guide the reigning premiers to a telling victory over a fast-starting Sydney Swans outfit in the Gather Round showcase at Adelaide Oval.

Australian Formula 1 driver Oscar Piastri has downplayed any frustrations after McLaren denied his request to challenge for victory at the Japanese Grand Prix, despite believing he had the pace to fight for the win.

The Matildas have kick-started their 2026 Asian Cup preparations on a positive note, defeating South Korea 1-0 in a tightly contested match at the Sydney Football Stadium.

In a moment that was both nerve-wracking and thrilling, world No 12 Daria Kasatkina debuted as an Australian tennis player on Wednesday, cruising past American Lauren Davis 6-1, 6-1 at the Charleston Open. Her dominant performance came just one week after officially changing her tennis nationality from Russia.

Carlton’s hopes for the 2025 AFL season are already on life support after suffering a fourth consecutive defeat, falling to arch-rival Collingwood by 17 points at a rain-soaked MCG on Thursday night.

In a night that will be remembered as a turning point for Australian athletics, teenage sprint sensation Gout Gout was edged out by rival Lachie Kennedy in the men’s 200m at the Maurie Plant meet in Melbourne. In front of a packed crowd of approximately 10,000 at Lakeside Stadium—the first sell-out at an Australian one-day athletics meet in over two decades—Kennedy clocked a personal best of 20.26 seconds, finishing just 0.04 seconds ahead of the 17-year-old record-holder.

In a night that rekindled the spirit of competitive athletics in Australia, a sell-out crowd of around 10,000 at Lakeside Stadium witnessed thrilling races that underscored the nation’s athletic resurgence. The Maurie Plant meet, marking the one-day highlight of the domestic athletics calendar, delivered memorable performances on both the track and field.