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EAGLES spearhead Josh Kennedy has paid tribute to "hard competitor" James Frawley after the Hawthorn backman shut him out of West Coast's shattering Grand Final loss on Saturday.

Frawley bounced back from a poor qualifying final – when Kennedy led the Eagles to victory with three goals – to hold the Coleman medallist goalless for the first time this season.

The ex-Demons defender, who has become yet another recruiting success story for the Hawks, also collected 22 touches and took 11 marks.

But it was Frawley's shutdown job on Kennedy (nine disposals, six marks) that was a telling factor in the Hawks clinching the first premiership three-peat in club history.

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"'Chip's' been a hard competitor to play on for the last eight years of my career," Kennedy said.

"When he was at Melbourne and now he's at Hawthorn, he's always tough to play on.

"For him to get some success now is good to see, but it's still disappointing that we didn't get the win."

Kennedy was among a raft of Eagles who underperformed on the big stage, but he was let down by West Coast's poor ball movement and a lack of supply.

Hawthorn dominated possessions and inside 50s (59-40) as the three-time premiers cruised to a 46-point triumph.

"It was a tough day. It was a tough day all-round for every player I think," Kennedy said.

"Our backs were under the pump, I don't know how many inside 50s they had, but we couldn't get our ball movement going and they put a lot of pressure (on) us through midfield.

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"Like I said, their defence killed us today. In all areas of the game they were just way too good."

West Coast only had one less scoring shot at half-time but trailed by 31 points.

Many believed the Eagles would hit back hard in the second half of the hottest Grand Final in history, but they never got close enough to pressure the Hawks.

Kennedy refuted suggestions the occasion got to the Eagles, who only had three players with Grand Final experience entering the match.

"It's probably the first time a lot of us had played in front of 100,000 people. I don't think that was the difference, I think Hawthorn just really stepped up," Kennedy said.

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"Their pressure was unbelievable today and we couldn't get our ball movement going. I don't think the awe of a Grand Final was a factor, I think just Hawthorn were way too good."

Kennedy booted 80 goals in a stunning season after fears his campaign might be over when he injured his elbow in round five against Greater Western Sydney.

But the 28-year-old played every match and said he wouldn't need surgery over the off-season as the Eagles' seek redemption in 2016.