eliminate spider valve

Is it possible to plumb a pool filter and eliminate the Hayward spider valve? It seems like once a year I have to pull the valve apart and replace the gasket. The valve itself is more than 20 years old, last year, I replaced the top part with the handle and the gasket but the body of the valve is starting to stress crack where the bolts go through.

I have an inground 29k gal. pool. I only have the pump. sand filter and discharge, no heater or other accessories except a polaris which runs off a separate pump.