Australian rules is the story of 16 year old Gary Black, average football player, budding wordsmith and reluctant hero. Gary helps his Australian Rules football team win the local championship by accident, but celebrations turn to violence when Gary's Aboriginal best friend, Dumby Red, is denied the "Best and fairest" medal because of the racism of local officials. In a night when the town's racial tensions boil over, Dumby Red is shot and killed and Gary becomes entangled in a conflict with his fellow townspeople, including his father.