Sandbox / Tigers And Devils

Tigers and Devils by Sean Kennedy is a 2009 Romance Novel set in Melbourne, the home of Australian Rules Football.

Declan Tyler is a star player for the (fictional) Tasmanian Devils, who is under public scrutiny following an unfortunate run of injuries. Simon Murray is a film festival director and a self-confessed "arty wanker". A passionate AFL fan and loyal supporter of the perpetually under-performing Richmond Tigers, Simon finds himself defending Declan at a party, unaware that the Devils forward is attending. Despite Simon's initial fear that Declan is going to punch him in the face for calling him an arrogant prick, they quickly hit off - but their budding relationship faces many obstacles, including Declan's need to keep the relationship secret, Simon's well-meaning friend Roger, and everyone's inability to talk to each other.

This book provides examples of:

• Alpha Bitch: Rachel, one of the WAGs. She and her posse are catty to Simon, and it's implied that Lisa used to be their target before him just because she's Asian.
• Award Snub: invoked Declan not winning the Brownlow Medal. Though all the fights Declan got into over insults to Simon is suggested as a reason, Simon suspects it's because Declan came out as gay.
• The Beard: Declan takes his sister's friend Jess as a date to Brownlows and other occasions. He describes it as a "mutual agreement" - she's also in the closet.
• Beta Couple: Simon's friends Roger and Fran, as well as Declan's teammate Abe and his girlfriend Lisa, whom Simon describes as a "less crazy" version of Roger and Fran. They help out with Simon and Declan's (many) fights and problems, and don't seem to have much of their own.
• Break-Up Bonfire: A non-romantic version occurs in the backstory, where Roger burns his membership card in his backyard after learning Fitzroy is merging with Brisbane.
• Conflicting Loyalty: Simon the Tigers supporter, dating Declan the Devils player. Played for laughs when they attend the Brownlows, where they announce the winner of the Brownlow Medal for the best and fairest player in the league:
  Interviewer: It'll be no surprise who you're hoping will win tonight.
  Simon: Probably not.
  Interviewer: Who?
  Simon: Stephen Burrows from Richmond, of course.
• Description in the Mirror: Our first proper look at Simon comes when he stands in front of the mirror before getting dressed for his first date with Declan.
• Estrogen Brigade: invoked One of the men discussing football in the party accuses a woman of only watching AFL for the guys in shorts. She denies it, and it's also averted by Simon himself, who's in it for the sport (though he does consider the hot players to be a nice bonus).
• Gay Best Friend: Inverted with Fran, who helps Simon and gives him advice on his relationship with Declan (and on his friendship with Roger). She even gives him fashion advice.
• Heterosexual Life-Partners: Roger and Simon, who have been best friends since they were kids. Their friendship is just as important to the book as Simon and Declan's relationship, if not more so.
• I Can't Believe a Guy Like You Would Notice Me: Simon is a little puzzled as to why Declan would date him, when he could be dating, in his words, "a gay supermodel".
• Straight Gay:
  • Declan, who is a professional football player. There's also his ex, who also plays in AFL.
  • Zigzagged by Simon; he's a football fan, but he works in the creative arts industry. On the other hand, he isn't particularly camp and shows a stereotypically masculine disinterest in fashion.
• Token Good Teammate: Anna is the only one out of all the Devils players' partners (besides Lisa) who is friendly to Simon.
• Yoko Oh No: invoked Quite a few people - including some of Declan's teammates - are unhappy about Declan dating Simon, and blame Simon for Declan losing out on the Brownlow Medal.