Peter Canavan: Meaningful rule changes needed to fix football

Peter Canavan is unhappy with modern Gaelic football as a spectacle, with the ex-Tyrone player putting a lot of it down to coaches sacrificing style of play in order to achieve results.

Canavan was part of the RTÉ Sport panel for the Ulster SFC quarter-final between Trillick and Crossmaglen last Saturday, and took park in a debate with current Armagh goalkeeper Ethan Rafferty over what rules changes are needed for the future of Gaelic football.

A focus on possession and defensive tactics has resulted in disquiet from some observers in recent weeks, and Canavan agrees that the standard of play for an spectator leaves a lot to be desired, amid the debate over potential rule changes.

"I don't think we are in a good place," said the two-time All-Ireland winner. "When I was a player, it use to irk me when I was listening to commentators and they were saying 'football back in the day was a lot better.'

"I’m not one to be making rash statements but I think if we don't act now... we’ve had so many poor games at county level and at club level.

"Back in the 70s and 80s, you had a lot of poor games but it was down to maybe poor skill level, you had corner-backs who all they could do was mark and get the ball and get rid of it.

"Now, the skill level of players has never been better. The quality of football when it is played right is absolutely brilliant but such is the state of play that coaches now can play in a way to make the game really unattractive, if they choose to do that.

"I’m not blaming coaches for that. Their main job is the get the best out of players and to win. As a result of that, they can set it up and make the game as a spectacle appalling at times and it’s putting a lot of people off watching the game.

"Unfortunately, it