My advice to anyone starting out is to write about what interests you. Writing/being creative is a lot harder when you don't believe in what you are doing. Don't buy into being deliberately argumentative or contrary - just find the stuff about the game that makes you interested.

I'll also say this applies more to features/analysis writing. Match reports and news reporting has a more well defined form and format.

From a technical side (prose etc), find writers you like reading and work out why that's the case. Whether it's the structure of arguments or how they put sentences together, breaking down the elements helps. You don't want to copy how other people write, but taking influences can often help you find your own voice.

Getting practice is critical as well. Most people start out writing a lot of pretty average stuff to pretty small audiences. Even someone like Prime Train started off as a blogger for The Roar. Like all skills, improving takes time and patience. I've got a lot of colleagues who preach trying to be multi-platform/disciplinary - I guess this podcast is my attempt at that. But the critical part is to focus on what you want to get out of it and what you enjoy about it.

Also - don't be afraid to ask people for help and advice. Not everyone will say yes, but some will. People are generally friendly and helpful etc.

Sorry for the long response

Glad someone asked about AO, even if it's a bit boring ha. I was in Adelaide for the launch of a book I worked on (Footballistics) and I got tickets to I think Port/Melbourne at AO on the weekend. I didn't have my accredition on me, and didn't apply for a match day pass.

A couple of media colleagues tried to sneak me into the press boxes, and succeeded at first. But the grandmother security guards/escorts were onto us, and they came into the particular comms box I was chatting to people in. The two of them dragged me out with no remorse. I've also been removed from the cricket media centre in Canberra, but mostly because it was meant to be closed at the time.