Lyon said the draw and subsequent loss to Collingwood in 2010 has left a slightly different atmosphere at Moorabbin.
"In '09 we were kicking ourselves like Geelong would have done the year before," Lyon said.
"You can talk about the draw and in the second quarter we should have been put away. We weren't, they left the game open and then clearly the best team won in the second grand final.
"Our skill level needs to improve. At one stage Collingwood were 4.2 and we were 1.8. It is pretty significant, we need to get more skilful and reconstruct our front half a little bit."
One idea Lyon has floated is an intention to use running defender Sam Gilbert in a more permanent role up forward, while veteran ruckman Michael Gardiner will play on for at least one more season on a performance-based contract.
Lyon said the Saints were keen to hold on to Gardiner, who is the oldest player on the list but admitted changes to the interchange laws that keep one player as a substitute could disadvantage him.
"The new interchange rule put him under some pressure but he has been so valuable," Lyon said. "We thought we would give him the opportunity to prove he can get his game minutes up.
"He can certainly play forward. He is a very talented forward.
"He will have to spend more time on the ground and he's had a couple of little procedures (operations) that should help him be able to do that.
"We think he has been a real team driver over the past couple of years."
After playing in the replayed grand final, the Saints are the last of the AFL's 17 clubs to commence pre-season training.
Lyon said he had no concerns that his team would be at a significant disadvantage because of the late start.
"It's up to the diligence of the players," he said. "If they're fair dinkum about playing footy and they want to achieve something I would expect they would come back through the door at their required weights and skinfolds.
"That will give us an indication of where their minds are at. There is really no excuse. We will tailor a program to what they present on day one."
