Baker has not played since round 13 through a combination of a nine-week suspension and a foot injury, but replaced ruckman Ben McEvoy in the line-up when the grand final teams were announced on Thursday.
Lyon backed the work the Saints’ sports science team had done with the 30-year-old to bring him up to pace, with his experience and flexibility seeing him get the nod over McEvoy.
“We looked at the opposition and our line-up, and on balance we went with the extra runner,” Lyon said at a media conference at Melbourne Town Hall on Friday afternoon.
“We think we’ve got enough flexibility to cover [McEvoy]. That’s the way we’ve gone and we think that will give us the best opportunity [to win].
“[Baker] certainly gives us great flexibility in all areas ... and we feel that we’ve got a number of ruck options. That’s the way we’ve decided to go, and only time will tell whether it was the correct option.”
Lyon bristled when asked if he expected the umpires to pay special attention to Baker given his high-profile tribunal appearance following a series of incidents involving Geelong’s Steve Johnson mid-year.
“I think they’ll be watching every player on the ground because that’s their job,” he said.
“Steven Baker, for two-and-a-half years, did not have one reportable incident. Stemming back [from that] they were all low-key incidents of which [in one] he was struck with a vicious elbow behind play.
“Let’s understand that it was a compound of 50 per cent [loading] on a number of small incidents. It wasn’t reflective of his last two-and-a-half years, which have been incident-free.
“If you want to continue to hang him for prior incidents then that’s your prerogative, but we see him as a 200-game player, a best-and-fairest winner who is highly respected.
“To allude to the fact that Steven’s been brought in for some thuggery is mischievous.”
The coach also declared Justin Koschitzke 100 per cent fit despite persistent rumours he had suffered broken ribs in a collision with young Bulldog Easton Wood during the preliminary final.
McEvoy instantly became the Saints’ hard-luck story of grand final week when Baker replaced him in the side, but Lyon backed his mental strength in the face of adversity.
“I think you’re making an assumption that it was a difficult period for Ben,” he replied when asked how McEvoy had taken the news of his omission.
“Certainly it’s at the forefronts of everyone’s minds, it’s in the papers which would make it more difficult, but certainly he’s made of stern stuff.
“[There’s] only 22 who run out there, but to get that opportunity you have to do an incredible amount of work and do a lot right during the home and away [series]. Every player on your list and, in particular, those who have played throughout the course of the year are part of getting you there and creating the opportunity, so he understands that.
“He’s got great family support and we’ll support Ben and work our way through it.”
Skipper Nick Riewoldt backed the decision to bring Baker into the team.
“There are some guys who just go that little bit extra, and the way that 'Bakes' plays the game [makes] him a guy that all players across the competition would like to be his teammate,” Riewoldt said.
Riewoldt looms as a key figure if the Saints are to overcome the disappointment of last year’s grand final defeat at the hands of the Cats with a win on Saturday. A likely match-up with Collingwood inclusion Simon Prestigiacomo will be pivotal to the outcome.
“'Presti' and I have certainly had a lot of great battles in the past,” he said.
“Some have gone his way and some have gone mine. If it does happen, I think we both know what to expect from each other. It’s going to be a great contest. “
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