Footy Finals Fever: How to Make the Most of the Big Season

There's a special buzz in the air around Australia in August. The nights are cold, the season's getting serious, and everywhere you go someone's talking about the footy. Finals are just around the corner — and whether your family barracks for an AFL club, an NRL side, or hasn't picked a team yet, this is a brilliant time to get everyone in on the fun.

Best of all, you don't need tickets or talent to enjoy it. Here's how to catch a bit of finals fever at home.

Have a proper backyard match

You don't need a stadium — the backyard, the local oval or even the hallway (sorry, lamps) will do nicely. Grab a ball, split into teams, and have a go.

The golden rule for families: make up your own rules. Little kids get extra tries. Grown-ups have to hop. Everyone cheers for everyone. It doesn't matter a bit who wins — the giggles are the whole point. And if it's freezing out, ten minutes of chasing a footy warms everyone up faster than any heater.

Run a family tipping comp

This one's a ripper, and it's dead easy. Before the games each week, everyone picks who they think will win. Write the tips on a chart on the fridge and keep score all the way to the finals.

The magic of tipping is that anyone can play — even the youngest, who might pick teams based on their favourite colours or the best mascot. Half the time they beat the grown-ups, which is extremely funny. Pop a small prize at the end (choosing Friday's dinner, say) and watch how seriously everyone takes it.

Pick a team to follow

If your family hasn't chosen a team, finals season is the perfect moment to adopt one. Let the kids decide — maybe it's the local side, the one with the best jumper, or the team a cousin follows. There are no wrong answers. (Yes, there is- if it’s not my team- The Cats!!)

Having a team turns a random game into your game. Suddenly everyone's got someone to cheer for, and that little spark of "come on!" makes the whole thing far more exciting.

Make it a proper occasion

You don't have to be at the ground to feel the buzz. Turn a big match into a family event:

• Dress in your team's colours — face paint optional, but encouraged.
• Make the snacks part of the fun. A footy afternoon calls for something warm — think sausage rolls, a big pot of soup, or hot chips wrapped in paper.
• Learn the team song so you're ready to belt it out if they win.
• Get everyone involved — even the family members who "don't really follow footy" tend to get swept up once the scores are close.

It's about more than winning

Here's the lovely thing about footy season. Yes, it's about goals and tries and the big final. But mostly it's about everyone being in the same room, on the same team, cheering together on a cold winter's night.

Win or lose, that's the bit the kids remember.

So this August, dig out the ball, start a tipping chart, pick your colours, and enjoy the ride. Go the mighty… whoever-you-barrack-for!