ARTICLE

Home Win: Your Ultimate Footy Final Game Plan!

October 11, 2022 - 3 minute read

At this time of year, it’s nearly impossible to dodge footy finals fever. And frankly, who’d want to! The NRL and AFL grand finals are the twin highlights of the spring sports calendar, and getting the gang round to enjoy all that fast-paced action together on your own TV and audio is a buzz that can’t be beaten. With finals fast approaching, we’ve got you covered with the best big screen TVs. Plus all the coolest eats and drinks for a premier league grand final party!

When Is The AFL Grand Final 2022?

The AFL Grand Final 2022 kicks off at 2:30pm on Saturday, September 24, at the MCG, Melbourne.

When Is The NRL Grand Final 2022?

The NRL Grand Final 2022 is on Sunday, October 2, at ACCOR Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park (time to be confirmed).

What’s Your Game Plan?

Every match needs a game plan and so do you! Top of the list? A killer screen and epic audio. Next, settle on a realistic guest list. Don’t invite the whole neighbourhood if you can only comfortably squeeze (and seat!) 10 people in your lounge. And don’t score an own goal by leaving food and drink prep to the last minute or you’ll spend your match trapped in the kitchen… or chasing that Dan Murphys’ order!

Keen to get game-ready? Follow our step-by-step checklist on how to host a fumble-free footy finals gathering at your place.

A Match-Fit Screen

Truth time. If you’re inviting the gang over to watch the game, you need at least a 60-inch screen, or don’t bother. A big screen TV is the secret to creating that big stadium vibe in your living room or on your back deck.

“Hosting the grand finals makes the perfect excuse to upgrade to a TV with all the latest features that scale up the spectator experience,” says John Milonas, The Good Guys Buyer – Televisions and Accessories. “That means mini-LED or OLED technology for extra brightness and contrast, an 83-inch screen for high-impact viewing, Dolby Atmos surround sound and advanced clear motion rate to keep pace with the on-field action.”

Want to really level up that grand final energy? Fire up a projector such as Samsung’s The Premiere Laser 4K Smart Projector against a white wall or projector screen. With an inbuilt TV tuner, you can relish all that nail-biting live action in 120-inch glory! Or install a second TV outside, near the barbie. It’s a guaranteed crowd pleaser.

Shop Best TVs For Sport

TCL 75" Mini-LED Google TV 2022

LG 83" C1 4K UHD Self Lit OLED Smart TV

Samsung 65" TERRACE 4K QLED TV with Wall Mount

Sound You Can Feel

Want your guests to feel like they’re in the stadium, cheering along? Pair a soundbar or subwoofer to your TV to rev up the roar of the crowd and the thud of boot against ball.

With multiple built-in speakers and channels, a soundbar will supersize your audio by boosting clarity, detail and depth for sound that comes from all around. A subwoofer will pump up the bass to amplify every boom and rumble of the game.

Shop Epic Audio

Sonos Arc Black

Bose Smart Soundbar 900

Loewe Klang1 Subwoofer Graphite Grey

Simplify The Drinks

Your best grand final booze play? Keep it simple, keep it chilled and keep it coming! Stock up on one light beer, one full-strength beer, a red and white wine option, and the latest healthy tipple trend – hard seltzers (alcoholic fizzy water with fruit flavours).

Choose a kick-off cocktail to get the party popping. You can’t go wrong with either a Bloody Mary or Boilermakers (beer mixed with a whiskey shot). Both go brilliantly with that footy favourite, a meat pie! Finally, include some non-alcoholic refreshments and a water station for hydration.

Shop Refreshment Aids

Hisense 140 Can Beverage Centre

Breville Kinetix Twist Blender

Philips All In One Water Station

Get Ahead Of The Food Game

Whether you plan to fire up the barbecue and watch outdoors, or set up a build-your-own burger bar inside, start cooking well before kick-off.

Again, simplicity rules. It’s all about the on-screen action, so go for food that’s quick to prepare and easy to eat with hands or forks. Think grilled skewers, sausages, hotdogs and spinach pies. Or crispy, crunchy air-fryer treats such as sausage rolls and spring rolls.

Put out enough chips and dips to last the first half. Follow up in the second half with a platter of cupcakes, iced in team colours, to keep energy levels high!

Shop Winning Cooking Appliances

BeefEater 1600 Series SS 5 Burner BBQ & Trolley

Russell Hobbs 5.7 Litres Brooklyn Air Fryer

Tefal OptiGrill Griller

Whip Up A Quick Aussie Meat Pie

Nothing goes down better than a piping hot meat pie and an icy brew on Grand Final day! Even better, this flavour-packed recipe, designed for the Sunbeam Pie Maker 4 Cup, will be game-ready in a flash.

Recipe and image supplied by Sunbeam

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Serves 6

Ingredients

2 tsp olive oil

1 brown onion, finely chopped

500g beef mince

Salt and pepper

165g ready-made onion gravy

2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

2 tbsp tomato sauce

2 tbsp tomato paste

6 sheets ready-rolled frozen puff pastry, thawed

Method

Heat oil in a large frying pan on medium heat.
Sauté onion for 2 minutes. Add the meat and cook, stirring, for 2–3 minutes until brown. Season with salt and pepper.
Add the gravy, Worcestershire sauce, tomato sauce and tomato paste, and stir to combine. Reduce heat to a simmer and allow to cook for 10 minutes.
Preheat the Sunbeam Pie Maker. Cut out six bases and tops from the pastry sheets, using the Pie Maker cutter.
Place a pastry base into the Pie Maker. Carefully scoop ½ cup of pie filling into the base then cover with the pastry top. Repeat for all six pies.
Cook pies until golden brown, approximately 8 minutes. Serve hot or cool down and freeze for up to 6 months.

Is your home entertainment set up match-ready? Head in-store or online for the best range of TVs and audio at the best prices.