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Essendon midfielder Darcy Parish was named best afield for the third time in an AFL feature match this season after registering 43 disposals against Geelong.

Emerging star Darcy Parish continues to rack up individual awards like he does possessions as Essendon hold out hope the out-of-contract midfielder will sign a new deal.

Parish went head-to-head with Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield on Friday night and registered 43 disposals, 13 clearances and a goal in the Bombers' 41-point AFL defeat.

In doing so, the 23-year-old earned himself the Tom Wills Award as best afield in the annual Country Game between the two sides.

Parish, who has relished a full-time move to the midfield this season, also claimed the Anzac Medal against Collingwood on Anzac Day and the Yiooken Award in the Dreamtime game against Richmond.

He registered more than 40 disposals in each of the three award-winning matches.

"Darcy played another really strong game for us and I think he's been doing that really well over the course of the season," Bombers coach Ben Rutten said after the loss to Geelong.

Cats coach Chris Scott admitted Parish's form had caused his side headaches but praised Dangerfield's 37-disposal, 11-clearance performance in an entertaining battle.

"I thought two of the better players on the ground were Parish and Dangerfield, and it wasn't by accident that they were next to each other for a bit," Scott said.

As impressive as those two were, it was explosive Bomber Jake Stringer who threatened to steal the show early.

Stringer kicked two brilliant first-quarter goals to get Essendon off to a hot start and finished with three majors to go with his 25 disposals and eight clearances.

But he also went cold at key stages when his side needed him.

"We know he does have a great capacity to create something out of nothing, which we love, but we also need to strike the right balance," Rutten said.

"When he's done enough to create a really good option, I think he does that really well most of the time, but sometimes when you've got players like that, they get a head of steam up and some confidence.

"Sometimes you've got to take the good with the bad."