While the obvious excitement and build-up to Sunday's historic clash in Launceston with Essendon has revolved around the first visit of the exceptionally popular Bombers, the clash has a whole different meaning to Hawthorn after its best outing of 2021.

The 38-point upset of a top eight Sydney side surprised the football world, but for Wingard and his teammates, it showed exactly what they knew internally they could produce.

"We have been putting in a lot of work and effort, but it just hasn't been paying off,'' Wingard said.

"But it was probably the first game where we have had four quarters of complete effort and not had a lapse for 10 minutes, a quarter or a half, and the boys will get a lot of confidence out of that, which is the most important thing.

"This is all just part of the process for us and we will just stick with this as it is about finding our identity and what game plan works best.

"The effort has been there the majority of the year, but we have had a couple of lapses where we just haven't executed. But it was good to see it come together in one game, but we need to be realistic and keep that blueprint and if we do that we will get more results like we did on the weekend."

That blueprint involves plenty of pressure to make sure their opponents are forced into quick kicks, a tactic highlighted by first-gamer Jai Newcombe's 14 tackles against the Swans.

"We need to make sure our offence is on the back of our defence as I think that is the best way for us to compete at the moment, to give us as much as we can on the defensive end, create turnovers and try to get the reward from that,'' he said.

It is this fierce approach that Wingard, who has played 187 games for Port Adelaide and Hawthorn, said the Hawks would need against the Bombers.

Despite the fact Essendon has never played at UTAS, the advantage of their Tassie home might not be as strong as some think this weekend.

"While there is an advantage, bwe have a lot of our younger guys who haven't played down there and we will both fly-in-and fly-out,'' he said.

"But it is a beautiful ground and I think Essendon will enjoy playing there, as will we. There will be two massive teams and Launceston loves its footy, so to see another team that doesn't normally come down there is very lucky for them there to have and it should be great."

The Hawthorn versus Essendon encounter will be one of two AFL matches in Tasmania this weekend, with North Melbourne to host Brisbane at Blundstone Arena on Saturday.