The best game for footy night is one that does not make everyone stop watching the footy. Keep the rules short, let people join between quarters, and choose something that works whether the match is a thriller or a blowout.
Here are five ways to make an Aussie Rules watch party more interactive. The prediction and bingo rules below are suggested house games, not instructions from The Local deck. They can all be played for points without alcohol or money.
Pick a game that suits the room
- People want to watch closely: pre-match predictions need almost no interruption.
- A mix of regular fans and casual viewers: event bingo gives everyone clear things to spot.
- A small adult group wants a ready-made game: The Local follows events during the live match.
- People arrive late: quarter-by-quarter predictions let them join the next round.
- You only want something at the break: use half-time memory questions.
1. Pre-match predictions
You need: paper, a pen and one person to record the answers.
Before the first bounce, ask everyone to write down the winner, the half-time leader and the final winning margin. Include a draw as a valid prediction. Keep all answers locked once play starts.
A simple scoring system is two points for the correct winner, one for the half-time leader and two for the closest final margin. For the margin, write a team and a number: “home team by 12”, for example. Treat the two teams' margins as opposite sides of zero so that predicting the wrong winner is not accidentally rewarded as an equally close guess. Anyone tied for closest gets the same points.
For a lighter version, skip the maths and award the margin points only among people who picked the right winner. Agree on that rule before starting. If the match has extra time, decide in advance whether your predictions finish at the end of regular time or the final result.
At half-time, read out the scores in a minute or two. You do not need a spreadsheet, an entry fee or a prize for this to work.
2. Make-your-own footy bingo
You need: one sheet per person with a three-by-three grid.
Choose nine observable events from the list below and put one in each square. Give people different combinations and arrangements; identical boards produce identical winners. This event list is for homemade bingo, not a list of cards included in The Local.
- The home team kicks a goal.
- The away team kicks a goal.
- The home team scores a behind.
- The away team scores a behind.
- A score review is shown.
- A fifty-metre penalty is awarded.
- A player kicks a goal from outside the fifty-metre arc.
- A set shot hits a goalpost.
- The lead changes.
- The scores become level after the first score.
- A shot is taken after a quarter-ending siren.
- A player takes a mark inside the centre square.
Cross off a square when its event happens after your game begins. First to complete a horizontal, vertical or diagonal line gets three points. Let other players keep going and give one point for each later completed line, counting each line once. Alternatively, finish at the first line and start fresh next quarter.
Some events may never happen. That is part of the game, but avoid filling a board with only rare moments. Use a mix of ordinary scoring events and a few less common ones. Nominate one person to settle uncertain calls using what was shown on the broadcast; the game should not turn into an argument about camera angles.
3. Play The Local alongside the match
You need: The Local Aussie Rules deck and 2–6 adults aged 18 or over.
This is our game, rather than an independent product review. The footy drinking card game comes with 100 game cards and a rules card. Deal five cards each before the first bounce, then watch for the events on your cards. When an event happens, set the card aside and score its points. Follow the included rules for the full game.
The difference from homemade bingo is the ready-made deck and the points on the cards. You do not have to write everyone's boards before people arrive. Alcohol is optional: use non-alcoholic drinks or keep it points-only.
It suits a small group that wants the live match to drive the activity. For a large party, the prediction games above are easier to run for the whole room than expecting one deck to accommodate everyone.
4. Reset the contest each quarter
You need: a running scorecard and the score at the start of each quarter.
Before the next quarter begins, have everyone predict which team will score more points during that quarter. A tied quarter is a separate valid pick. Award two points for a correct answer.
Use only the points added in that quarter, not the team leading overall. A team can be well behind on the scoreboard and still win the quarter. Record the start and end scores so there is no confusion.
This works for people arriving late and for a match that has become one-sided. Each quarter starts a new prediction, so nobody has to spend the entire afternoon defending a bad tip from before the bounce. Count a late arrival's points from the next quarter and keep any whole-match prize separate.
5. Half-time memory questions
You need: a host who writes down a few answers while watching.
Instead of obscure historical trivia, ask about the match everyone has just seen. Which team scored first? Who kicked the first goal? Which team led at quarter-time? Write down the answers as events happen rather than relying on memory later.
Ask five questions at the break and award one point each. Read the answers after everyone has written theirs down. If the broadcast did not show an event clearly, discard the question instead of guessing. Stop before the second half starts.
A simple hosting checklist
Set up the broadcast before guests arrive. Keep the table clear enough for cards or paper, put food within reach and explain the scoring before the first bounce. Choose one main game, not all five at once.
Make joining in optional. Some guests will want to talk, some will care about every stoppage, and some will only want a half-time activity. A good watch party has room for all three.
For adult drinking games, keep non-alcoholic options available, let people skip any drinking prompt and do not use shots, speed or finishing drinks as a target. Points are enough to decide a winner.
Buying something for the person who always hosts? Browse our footy gifts. For other sports, see The Local game range and check each edition's availability.