'No problem': Sue Gaudion backs Giants' aggression ahead of Super Netball finals

Super Netball expert Sue Gaudion has defended the physical playing style of Giants Netball after recent criticism of the team's aggression.

Currently sitting in fourth position, the Giants have left some fans angry with their style.

"I have no problem with how any player or team goes about their business within the rules of the competition,' former Fever coach Gaudion told Wide World of Sports.

"It was a big game last week and the Giants came out and they wanted to send a message.

"We've seen in all codes at the elite level, when a side wants to step up and have a physical presence on the court, they will do so.

"They were allowed to do what they wanted to around the rules and they came out with a significant win.

"If that's how they want to get across the line, whether they win fans in the process, I don't think they care about that. Their goal is to win the competition."

However, despite praising the Giants for getting a much-needed victory, Gaudion doubted whether their playing style would stack up moving forward.

"Giants are a far more physical and competitive side, the Lightning are a far cleaner looking side that sit off the body, the Swifts play a slower, clinical style of netball and the Vixens are dogged but quite clean," she said.

"I've got a feeling that it may not play into the hands of the Giants in the finals given that any of the opponents they could face show a cleaner defensive approach to the game."

Gaudion said that the most important thing for the umpires, regardless of how a team played, was making sure that a level of consistency is reached across all games.

"I do think, as opposed to raising the question about what the athletes are currently doing, it's more about getting more experience into our umpires and a more consistent message around the league about how they want the game to unfold," she said.

"Everyone has a responsibility but ultimately on game day it falls to the person with the whistle."

How Lightning have maintained their dominance

After winning the past two Super Netball premierships, the Sunshine Coast Lightning are once again looking like the team to beat.

The Lightning have hardly skipped a beat despite the loss of Geva Mentor to Collingwood and Gaudion praised the team's structure for the seamless transition.

"They've just got some really decent structures in place," she said.

"I think they have exceptional leadership on the court in each third that tend to stand up at the right time.

"We've seen (Karla) Pretorius come out and make critical intercepts at the right time, we've seen (Laura) Langman take control of the game, and someone like Steph Wood who just creates and crafts, and then as you saw last weekend, bombed a long one when it was needed.

"I just feel like even with the loss of Mentor, the replacement of (Phumza) Mahweni has been insane. It's probably the best pick-up of the season.

"Noeline Taurua is proving how important it is to have key leaders on the court, because she did it at the World Cup and she's doing it right here with the Lightning."

The Lightning will have a challenge next season with two-time premiership winning coach Noeline Taurua stepping away, with her assistant Kylee Byrne set to assume head coach duties.

While admitting that Byrne would need to develop her own voice, Gaudion said she was an "admirable replacement".

"What I really like about what the lightning have done is, I would imagine right from the get-go, they have a succession plan in place," she said.

"I think Noeline's really smart about the way she structures things like that. Kylee's obviously ready to go having been in a winning environment. She knows exactly what she needs to do to tick the right boxes.

"The biggest thing that Kylee's going to have is what her team looks like.

"If she can retain a core part of that group, the likes of Langman can re-sign as well as Pretorius and Mahweni, what's to say that they can't continue to do it?

"I don't think it'll be as easy because Kylee will have to find her own feet in leading the way and making game-day decisions. Everything will come down to recruitment for the Lightning.

"We know that they're going to maintain their front end. What does their back end look like?"

Can the Magpies make it into the final four?

With the final round yet to take place, the Magpies remain in fifth place, one point adrift of the fourth-placed Giants.

The Magpies will have to beat the third-placed Melbourne Vixens and hope that they receive a favour from the sixth-placed West Coast Fever who take on the Giants.

While admitting that the Magpies will need a favour from the Fever, Gaudion praised the team for rebounding after the injury to star centre Kelsey Browne.

"It's almost like a light switch has come on for them," she said.

"I think it's been part and parcel due to a change in their line-up. The move of Ash Brazill into centre with Kim Ravallion over in wing defence has really worked.

"How much does the loss of Kelsey Browne impact their environment? You would have to say that is quite significant.

"Kimiora Poi is a classy player and has similar style to Kelsey, but she doesn't have the game time or connection that Kelsey does.

"What matters most to the Magpies is how well do the West Coast Fever play this week?

"If the Fever have a shocker without their captain Courtney Bruce and the Giants can walk all over them, it's all over for the Magpies.

"The West Coast Fever hold the huge key in keeping the Magpies' hopes alive."