Dashing defender Conor McKenna says a licence to thrill from his coaches has allowed him to thrive following another sensational performance in Essendon’s defeat of Hawthorn on Friday night.

McKenna was instrumental in the Bombers’ 19-point victory at Marvel Stadium, repeatedly acting as the slingshot out of the backline and dazzling with his athleticism and deft touch.

It’s the County Tyrone product’s willingness to take the game on that defines his style and McKenna said head coach John Worsfold and defence coach Mark Harvey give him their blessing to take risks.

“‘Woosha’ and ‘Harves’ are pretty good. They let us, if we think we can go, to just go,” McKenna said post-game.

“(Worsfold) knows you’re going to turn it over sometimes, but if it works it can be very effective.

“Tonight we got involved and it worked pretty well, so it was good.”

The 23-year-old – who grew up as one of the rising stars of Gaelic football – played arguably his best game of Australian football on Friday, racking up 25 disposals, 10 intercept possessions, nine rebound 50s, seven running bounces and 622 metres gained.

It was a remarkable effort that proved McKenna has truly settled into the game and he said he now feels right at home.

“It’s still pretty surreal, I suppose. You watch the Gaelic football back home and then on the weekend you’re going to play a different sport.

“But I feel like I fit in now and I’m happy around at the minute.

McKenna celebrates the win with Zach Merrett and Dylan Shiel. (Image: AFL Photos)

Part of his impressive run and gun style is a by-product of the strength of Essendon’s key defenders, who put together another strong effort as a unit against the Hawks.

Michael Hurley (26 disposals, 12 marks, nine rebound 50s) and Cale Hooker (22 disposals, 12 marks, five rebound 50s) were powerful pillars in the backline, while Patrick Ambrose (10 disposals, seven one percenters) was typically tough and unshakeable.

“(Hawthorn) didn’t take many contested marks in the forward line and it just set up for the small fellas when the ball comes to the ground that we’re close to our man and can either get the ball out of bounds or get it up the field.

“‘Hooksey’, ‘Patty’ and ‘Hurls’ have been going really well, so it definitely gives us a lot of confidence.”

One of the quirky highlights of the game was McKenna’s tidy dummy ‘solo’ in the first term – a staple of Gaelic football where the player must kick it to themselves when on the run. But as entertaining as it was, McKenna admitted he might try to avoid the natural instinct in the near future.

“I’m not really sure (what happened), it was pretty natural – back home we have to do it every four steps,” McKenna said.

“I looked up and there wasn’t much on and it sort of just came out and I kicked the ball.

“Thankfully I didn’t mess it up, but I’ll maybe keep that away for a while.”

Essendon faces its next huge challenge when it heads across to Perth to take on reigning premier West Coast at Optus Stadium on Thursday.