Donegal captain Michael Murphy claims football’s new rules are an unnecessary ‘short cut’ and that the GAA should have concentrated on fixing the fixtures.
Last month’s Special Congress rubber stamped three new playing rules but newly crowned All-Star Murphy says things ‘are fine the way they are’.
The former All-Ireland winning captain says it feels like rule changes are ‘an annual thing’ now and described the latest ones as needless.
The three new rules are the advanced mark, 10-minute sin bin and decree that all kick-outs be taken from the 20-metre line.
The advanced mark may promote kick-passing into the danger area and spectacular fielding though Murphy isn’t convinced there was an urgent need for change.
Murphy told Donegal News: “I think our rules are fine the way they are. We need to become more innovative as teams and figure out how to approach it a different way, become more effective.
“Fixing rules, looking to find a short cut to that, I just don’t feel it’s the answer. I’m all for trialling things but we’ve made changes now over the last few seasons and it seems to be more of an annual thing now.
“Football, I feel it’s opening up again anyway. So why are we changing again? The overriding feeling with players and supporters is that we need to look at the fixtures calendar closer than looking at rules.
“Is there a want there to look at the game we’re playing on that same level? The answer would be no. If GAA people were asked if they’d rather the fixtures calendar or the playing rules be looked at, there’d be more appetite for the fixtures calendar.”
Murphy, 30, is preparing for his 14th season of senior county action with Donegal.
He captained them to back to back Ulster titles last summer but losing to Mayo in the Super 8s cost them an All-Ireland semi-final place.
Murphy said: “Listen, the fact is we just didn’t perform that day. We weren’t at the same level mayo brought. We need to find out the reasons why. Yeah, we had a few injuries but all sides have to contend with that so we can’t use it as any kind of excuse.
“Last year was definitely better squad wise than the previous season. I’d like to think that with another year under the belt that more players will be ready to contribute.”
Donegal will be without long serving defender Frank McGlynn in 2020 after deciding to retire.
Murphy said: “He was just a phenomenal footballer. He was able to attack and defend. He was such a huge part of the whole group. His ability to read the game and give advice was second to none. As captain, he was one of the first people I would have bounced off.”
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