THE MOMENT of truth has arrived for Hawthorn's free agency acquisition, key defender James Frawley.

If the 27-year-old former Demon can keep West Coast forward Josh Kennedy quiet in the Grand Final on Saturday, he will be a Hawk hero.

His task on the hirsute 196cm athlete from out west is as big as it gets. 

Kennedy, who, like Frawley, is at his second club after being Carlton's first-round selection at No.4 in 2005, is the Coleman medallist.

He entered the AFL system a year before Melbourne used pick No.12 to nab Frawley.

Two years later, at the end of 2007, Kennedy joined the Eagles in return for Chris Judd while Frawley eventually went hunting success at the end of last season after eight years battling the odds at Melbourne.

Frawley looks the obvious choice to have first crack at Kennedy.

It's a marquee match-up that has been waiting many years to happen but has hit us unexpectedly.

When Brian Lake failed to contain Kennedy in the 39 minutes he spent on him early in the qualifying final, giving him too much latitude and paying for it as the 28-year-old Eagle kicked two goals, Frawley became the answer. 

Frawley fared better in the second half of that game with the sting out of the game and with Luke Hodge lending support. He also restricted Kennedy to just six disposals and three goals in the 119 minutes he spent by his side in round 19.  

Josh Kennedy and James Frawley are no strangers to one another on the field. Picture: AFL Media

Such news would bring on an onset of insomnia to most defenders, particularly one in his first Grand Final. 

Kennedy is the best forward in the game. 

His repeat efforts are outstanding and he is constantly on the move.

One club official told AFL.com.au he explodes when West Coast creates a turnover, lengthening the ground by running into space.

Kennedy can then double back to hit up his teammate on the lead, or take a mark in open space goalside of his defender to score.

Those attributes mean whoever plays on Kennedy needs support to at least neutralise the battle. 

Frawley can break even on one-on-ones.

He showed that against Fremantle when the Hawks left their defenders one out more often than they would have liked and he stood up when opposed to Matthew Pavlich.

Frawley had Matthew Pavlich's measure in the Hawks' preliminary final win. Picture: AFL Media

He has the strength to match Kennedy if the ball comes in high and under pressure. 

He also has enough closing speed to stop Kennedy gaining a metre's break and marking in front of his face if the kick comes in under pressure.

However without pressure applied upfield, Frawley's qualities won't mean much.  

In such circumstances even Jack Regan, the prince of full-backs who played for Collingwood in the 1930s and '40s, would struggle to contain Kennedy.

Kennedy has kicked 71.3 per cent of his 80 goals this season from a set shot.

Forty per cent of those goals have come from 41 metres out or beyond. He prefers to kick his goals from the right-hand side (17.5 per cent) or the corridor (70 per cent) so Frawley will be trying to edge his opponent left.

Frawley's head will be on a swivel and his ears need to be open wide to ensure he responds quickly to Josh Gibson's messages. 

And he will be praying the Hawks can repeat the dose of pressure applied to the Sydney Swans in the 2014 decider.

The biggest challenge for Frawley will come early.

Kennedy has kicked his team's first goal six times in the past 22 games, and all his attributes were on display when he sparked his team in the second quarter of the preliminary final. 

Although he's been very good in the past two weeks, Frawley has looked shaky at times this season with the ball in his hands.

It's no wonder he's taken time to adjust in a team full of defenders who pride themselves on their composure when they have the ball.

But early, when the game is frenetic, Frawley must steel himself to hit the first option if he wins possession.

If he does that his nerves should settle.

The Hawks recruited Frawley for a reason and they encouraged him throughout pre-season to adapt to game-based training and sharpen his decision-making.

Kennedy arrived at the Eagles via circumstance and has starred.

Both are chasing a dream and their battle will determine who sleeps best over summer. 

Stats supplied by Champion Data