NEW FREMANTLE coach Ross Lyon has dismissed suggestions he has taken over a dream list, saying, "I don't think I've inherited nirvana."

Lyon sensationally quit St Kilda late last week after accepting a four-year deal with Fremantle at the expense of sacked coach Mark Harvey.

In a wide-ranging interview with The West Australian, Lyon appraises his new club's list, saying he rates only Aaron Sandilands, Matthew Pavlich, Luke McPharlin and David Mundy as top-end players.

"I think [Fremantle] are in a transition … there's some maturity there but there's some holes as well - I don't think I've inherited nirvana," Lyon said.

"I really rate [Hayden] Ballantyne highly and there's some emerging class through the midfield with [Nathan] Fyfe, [Stephen] Hill, Mundy and Morabito, and there's a few that have made some inroads."

However, Lyon was under no illusions there were a number of players who would have to improve under his guidance.

"From here it's, 'Are you going to continue on?" Lyon said.

"Guys like [Alex] Silvagni, [Dylan] Roberton and [Nick] Suban, who have shown glimpses, but they really need to be stepping up from where they are at.

Lyon also flagged positional changes, singling out Adam McPhee for a role across half-back and the injection of Ballantyne into the midfield while suggesting Ryan Crowley and Michael Johnson were capable of further development.

"I think it's a good list with a good run at it and a strong game plan, and with everyone working hard we can really challenge consistently against the best teams," he said.

"However, I think we've got to prove that we can get over the top of the best teams. We've got to create a top-four opportunity.

"Until we can do that it's incredibly hard to win a premiership."

Lyon, who joined the Saints in 2006 and took them to three successive Grand Finals, is keen to instil a demanding work ethic at Fremantle and said he doesn't tolerate laziness.

"I will hold them to account to high standards. I remember I read a quote once that said, 'Show me a CEO that leaves early and arrives late and I'll show you a workforce that mirrors it'," he said.

"I think there's going to be some challenges but I'm more confident with the experience I've got than I was five years ago. I want to continue to grow the club because there's a lot going right there.

"I'm really excited by the challenge but there's an enormous amount of work we've got to do to get to a standard to give us an opportunity to pursue a premiership."