ARTICLE

Ultimate Home Entertainment Setup For Football Finals

May 25, 2023 – 5 mins read

It’s that time of year again – it’s almost footy grand final time. If you’ve been following the AFL or NRL seasons this year, you’ll know that it’s been a tough time for players, coaches, clubs and their fans. But now is the time to come together and celebrate one of Australia’s most beloved pastimes: watching the big game.

As finals are fast approaching, it’s the perfect time to make sure you’ve got the ultimate home entertainment setup for hosting a grand final party for your family (and maybe your friends if lockdown restrictions allow). If you’re looking for inspiration to upgrade your current setup or perhaps you’re starting from scratch, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve put it all together here, including a couple grand final games to try, ways to stay entertained at home (if you’re still in lockdown) and even some virtual party ideas.

 

Excited group of friends watches the big game from the couch on the their new TV

The Season Is Upon Us For The Big Sports Games Finals

Spring brings so much joy every year to footy fans because not only are we gifted with the Australian Rules Football (AFL) grand final, we also get to witness the glory of the National Rugby League (NRL) grand final, too.

With so much sport to catch you might be on the lookout for home party entertainment ideas, especially if you’re hosting this year’s grand final day extravaganza for your crew. This year, both the AFL and NRL are on in the one weekend, so even if you follow one and not the other, you might decide to host back-to-back parties and make the most of the whole weekend!

AFL Grand Final

In 2023, the AFL grand final is on Saturday 30th September, and typically lands on the last Saturday of September every year.

NRL Grand Final

For NRL fans, your grand final lands one day after the AFL on Sunday 1st October, 2023.

Hosting An Epic Finals Party

If you’re mad about AFL, we’ve got some great AFL party ideas for you if you’re feeling in the mood. You could make it a costume party and come dressed as your favourite AFL player, or even plan a few kicks around in the backyard with your mates at half-time. If the kids are keen to get involved, you could get your art and craft on and make signs or posters to decorate your home. And if you’re game, you could try your hand at face painting and paint their favourite team’s logo on their cheeks.

When it comes to AFL grand final party games, you could create a sweep where everyone at the party tries to guess how many points the winning team will win by. You could also try to guess how many goals the leading goal kicker gets throughout the game.

“To make this a weekend to remember, there are a few key appliances you can upgrade or invest in to turn your humble living room into a stadium of epic proportions.”

Having Your Mates Around For The Big Game

Having your mates over to watch the game is great, but you need to make sure you’re all set up first. If you’re throwing an AFL or NRL grand final party, pop down to your local party supply store a few weeks before to score some great decorations. They’ll have inflatable hands, ribbons, guernseys and banners. Plan out an epic spread of finger food and you’ll be all set!

Ultimate Home Entertainment Setup Ideas

Once you’ve got your decorations and food ideas planned out, now it’s time for the most important part: your home entertainment setup. To make this a weekend to remember, there are a few key appliances you can upgrade or invest in to turn your humble living room into a stadium of epic proportions.

TVs

When it comes to game day viewing, bigger is better! Televisions over 60 inches not only bring the action closer, but make the game feel larger than life. A big TV doesn’t necessarily take up more space either as many styles are wall-mountable. A great option to explore is the Samsung 65" Q80A 4K UHD Smart QLED TV, perfect for keeping up with fast moving players on the field due to its 200HZ motion rate.

TV Speakers

Want to feel like you’re RIGHT there, cheering with the crowds? Add a soundbar to your TV and seriously boost your audio experience!

As an alternative, the Sony 3.1ch Dolby Atmos soundbar brings Sony’s awesome sound quality to your TV with up to 7.1.2 channel surround sound. You won’t miss a goal, a kick or the final siren with this soundbar!

Bar Fridge

Having a few more people over than normal and need somewhere to stash all the beers and wine? Bar fridges are perfect for game day and give you a little extra room to store the goods. Depending on how much space you need, a great option is the CHiQ 90L bar fridge, which can comfortably store and keep cool your game day snacks and drinks.

Or, if you think you might need a little extra space, check out the Hisense 125L bar fridge. It’s stainless steel finish makes it easy to wipe clean, while the adjustable glass shelves make it easier to fit everything in.

Air Fryer

Party food on game day can be as elaborate as a fancy cheese board or as simple as chicken nuggets and tomato sauce – it’s up to you! Air fryers can help you make all kinds of fun snacks for your crew when they’re peckish, like fries and spring rolls.

The Philips Daily Collection Airfryer doesn’t need oil either, which makes it easier to offer a healthy option of your favourite snacks. With adjustable temperature control and an integrated timer, you can be whipping up snacks AND watching the game at the same time.

Outdoor Entertainment Setup

If the weather permits and you have the space, why not take your grand final party outside. Not sure where to start? How about one of Australia’s other favourite pastimes: a good old fashioned barbie.

Traditional BBQ

As we start to move into the warmer months, BBQs become more and more popular. So this grand final day, grill up a storm on the Weber Family Q Titanium LPG. It’s the largest BBQ in the Weber family and boasts being able to feed up to 15 people at a time, making it ideal for your grand final party lunch. Pop the lid down and you’ll fly through the cooking in no time due to its twin grill and roasting system, freeing you up to catch more of the game.

Electric BBQ

If grilling with gas isn’t your thing, consider an electric BBQ instead. They’re much more portable and cook just as well as their gas BBQ cousins. Take a look at the Weber Pulse 2000 Electric BBQ – with independently controllable dual zone grilling areas, you can flash cook your steaks on one side while your veggies cook on a lower heat on the other. This way you can keep everyone happy (and full) and have multiple meals on the go at once.

Outdoor Speakers For The Party Atmosphere

A party isn’t a party without tunes! Home wireless speakers are a must-have for when the game wraps up and the party kicks in. Sonos Move is a durable, battery powered speaker suitable for both indoor and outdoor listening. It’s weather and drop resistant and can also be controlled by your voice. Perfect for outdoor entertaining!

No Matter Your Setup, Celebrate Grand Finals In Style!

Whether you’re AFL obsessed or a die-hard NRL fan, you won’t want to miss this year’s big game, especially if you’re watching it from the comfort of home. We’ve got a great range to choose from to give your home entertainment setup a boost, plus we offer Click & Collect and contactless delivery to make getting sorted for kick-off a breeze.

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