Brian Lake will most likely line up deep in defence for Hawthorn in the grand final in what could well be his final game for his second club.

Should Hawthorn prevail, Lake would have a unique place in the game's history. He will have crossed to a second club for three flags in three years – an astonishing sunset to a distinguished, yet enigmatic career. He has already established a template for a veteran's twilight.

But if you consider what happened to the Hawks in the qualifying final against the same opposition, Lake's actual position in the side ought to be open to debate.

Much of the post-preliminary final discussion has centred on Ryan Schoenmakers and whether he can be accommodated in the same side as Jack Gunston. If this is a legitimate question, then it is also reasonable to ask whether the Hawks can afford to stick with a defence that boasts four players who can "play tall" – Lake, James Frawley, Josh Gibson and Ben Stratton.

Lake is not an ideal match-up for West Coast's premier forward, the formidable Josh Kennedy, who has been arguably the most influential player of the finals and shapes as the most problematic player for Alastair Clarkson's match committee.

In the qualifying final, Lake was at sea against Kennedy, who has deceptive mobility for a 196cm forward. Kennedy also possesses a V8 engine and can run many key defenders ragged. Few have his aerobic fitness.

Lake, who is a great power defender but with limited aerobic ability, does not have the legs to run with Kennedy. Frawley, who is quicker and a more natural spoiler, has more of the attributes to match Kennedy.

When these teams last played three weeks ago, Hawthorn was unbalanced by having an extra tall defender and sent Frawley forward – a move that clearly messed with their forward structure, which worked better with Frawley in defence full-time against the Dockers and Schoenmakers providing the alternative tall target.

Hawthorn relies on a holistic defensive system in which each member of the backline moves quickly to lend a hand. Usually, this means that if Nick Riewoldt or Kennedy travels upfield, Lake would stay at home and let a teammate cover for him.

West Coast presents an unusual problem for the Hawk defence, because they have a mix of forwards of diverse size and abilities. Hawthorn, as some opposition coaches observed, function best with one fewer tall back. Adam Simpson has followed this script, using a defence with greater mobility to out-number the opposition at the contest.

Stratton can play small, too – such as on Mark Lecras – while Gibson is well suited to medium talls like Jack Darling and can pinch hit on a resting ruck. Lake's aerobic limitations make him a risk on Kennedy and it would not surprise if Clarkson preferred to start Frawley on the most dangerous Eagle. Where would that leave Brian? He'd be consigned to picking up the resting rucks – Callum Sinclair and Nic Naitanui, who will divide their time between ruck, bench and forward line.

Lake is expert at reading the ball in flight – few defenders in the game have been better – but he will not give the Hawks much rebound or run. The argument for playing him is that his experience and high ball skill outweighs his athletic limitations and that Frawley is less versed in the holistic Hawthorn system of dropping off an opponent and covering for teammates. Frawley, at this stage, is more suited.

Kennedy is the logical portfolio for Frawley, who also could match Darling. Another consideration is that, on an afternoon when the mercury might hit 27 or 28 degrees, mobility and run – and the ability to endure – are of greater import.

Less seasoned, less skilled and less physically imposing, West Coast's only edge might be in mobility and run. And potentially in Kennedy. If Lake can't match Kennedy, then he'll be selected largely for the resting rucks. It would be a huge call for Clarkson to omit Lake and pick a more agile defence. But given what happened three weeks ago, Lake's position in the grand final ought to be a matter for debate.