NBL EXPERIENCE

Peter Donnelly made his NBL debut with the City of Sydney Astronauts on 24/2/1979. He scored six points in his first game.

Peter Donnelly played an important role in the City of Sydney Astronauts’ debut NBL campaign in 1979 under head coach Charlie Zammit. The Astronauts featured in the very first game in NBL history, a tight 68–65 loss to the Glenelg Tigers at the Apollo Entertainment Centre. Donnelly chipped in 6 points, hitting all four of his free throws, while David Leslie (25 points), Claude Williams (8 points), and Ian Robilliard (8 points) led the way offensively for Sydney

The team struggled early, dropping their opening five games, but finally broke through with an 81–80 win over Glenelg in a dramatic rematch. Donnelly was a key factor in the victory, scoring 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting and going perfect from the free-throw line. He joined Williams (16 points), Brad Dalton (12 points), and Leslie (12 points) in a strong all-around performance. Glenelg were led by Steve Sparrow (24 points) and Gerry Clarke (23 points)

That breakthrough win sparked a six-game winning streak for the Astronauts, with Donnelly continuing to deliver steady production. He provided valuable minutes throughout the stretch, consistently offering scoring support and composure in pressure moments

Donnelly finished the season averaging 7.3 points per game across all 18 matches—cementing his place as a dependable contributor in the Astronauts’ historic inaugural season

City of Sydney faded late, however, managing just one win in their final six games and losing their last three. The Astronauts ended the season in seventh place with an 8–10 record, but Donnelly’s performances stood out as a highlight in the foundation year of the league

Peter Donnelly played two seasons the City of Sydney Astronauts. He averaged 6.8 points, 0 rebounds, and 0 assists in 20 NBL games.