ESSENDON will blood Irishman Conor McKenna for his AFL debut this week after exciting progress at VFL level.

McKenna,19, who picked up a Sherrin for the first time in April last year, has been used as a small and creative forward in the club's state league team, kicking 18 goals in 15 games.

His foot skills on both sides of his body and leg speed have been evident from the moment he stepped into Essendon, and the club has been rapt with his development in his first AFL season.

Essendon development coach Paul Corrigan delivered the news to the Gaelic football convert on Tuesday that he would be picked to face Richmond at the MCG on Saturday night.



"The coach took me in yesterday about three o'clock after training," McKenna told the club's website.



"'Cora', who has been working with me all year, he just said 'Congratulations, you're playing against Richmond this week'.

"It's just good to get a run now."

The Bombers recruited McKenna last year as an international rookie having first seen him at a talent combine in Ireland in December, 2013.

The club's father-son academy manager Martin Allison continued to keep contact with McKenna through last year.

More clubs became interested in April last year, when McKenna kicked four goals in his first ever game of football playing for the European Legion against the travelling NAB AFL Academy squad, which included the likes of early picks Christian Petracca, Angus Brayshaw and Lachie Weller. 

McKenna travelled to last year's draft combine at Etihad Stadium and spoke with several clubs before choosing to join the Bombers. 

He played for the Bombers in the NAB Challenge when the club had almost half its list unavailable due to provisional suspensions.

McKenna's first senior game at AFL level will coincide with teammate Paul Chapman's last, after the veteran half-forward announced his retirement this week. 



He will be the first Irishman to play for the Bombers since Michael Quinn in 2010.