Finals fever: planning the ultimate grand final party

Whether you're an AFL or NRL fan, you know footy finals have arrived when the sun breaks through the clouds and the team hoodie can finally be replaced with just a jersey and scarf. It doesn't really matter if your team has made it to the ultimate decider or not, you can still get swept up in the excitement of the moment. So here, we provide our tips on hosting the ultimate grand final house party. Heave-ho, let's go!

The most important part of the day is ensuring everyone has sight of the big game and a comfy spot to sit. Consider setting up some additional chairs, bean bags or shuffling around the furniture to ensure everyone has a spot to watch the game with ease. Got a small TV? Use a projector to transform your space into the most sensational spectator's sanctuary.

Having the two finalists' teams colours up in your home is such a must, it may as well be written in the Australian constitution! Decorate with some bunting, balloons and streamers from the local party shop, or get crafty and hand-make them. If it's your own team playing in the grand final, it's ok to be biased and only decorate in your club's colours - you've earned the right!

When you invite everyone over, have them wear their team's colours, no matter who they support. Whether it's rocking their club's jersey, hat or scarf, everyone can show their sporting spirit by looking the part.

Whether you're heating up party pies in the oven or cooking up a BBQ feast, it's important to ensure your cooking appliances are clean and ready for the big day. Take some time before the party to remove any grease or grime build up from your appliance to help reduce the risk of a cooking fire.

Sometimes when there's a big party, things can go wrong. A miskicked footy could cause accidental damage, or a moment's distraction could result in a cooking fire. Before the day arrives, check your home insurance details to see what's covered and what's not, and whether you need to adjust your insurance to include anything extra.

If the drama of the game isn't enough, a round of trivia, football bingo or a tipping competition are sure ways to get the whole crew fired up − especially if the winner scores a box of chocolates! For tipping, have people guess who'll record the first score, who'll stack up the most disposals, which team will win the match, and who'll be voted best on ground. For bingo, create a grid of serious and cheeky events that could occur in the game that people can tick off (did someone say unnecessary arc review?!). Keen on trivia? Develop a series of questions about the game and the two teams playing.