After beating West Coast and the Bulldogs, the Dockers have dropped their past two contests due to lapses that have worried Lyon.
"We think we're quite a good team, but we've been a bit inconsistent, which concerns us," Lyon said on Wednesday.
"We haven't had a full four-quarter performance. I thought (our game against) Essendon was very good but 15 minutes of sloppiness really hurt us and (we) some missed opportunities.
"We're working through and we'll take two-and-a half quarters out of Hawthorn, but our first 30 minutes was not what we're after.
"So we've focused on training well and preparing well to give ourselves the best opportunity."
Lyon said he'd impressed upon his group the brand of football it needs to play after the loss to Hawthorn.
"I think our best is very good and clearly we value strong defensive effort. But we really value contested ball moreso," he said.
"It's where it starts and finishes and I thought the first quarter we let ourselves down at the contest. We played collapse-back footy. Didn't get numbers to the ball and it was very unimpressive.
"But us at our best, we're a high contested ball team, numbers to the ball and give our forwards plenty of opportunities."
Lyon is wary of the challenge that lies ahead against a Tigers outfit that has impressed him so far this season.
Preview: Dockers v Tigers
"They're 3-1 and they were right in it against the Pies, they just had a bad 20 minutes, which we've experienced as well ourselves," he said.
"They've got real speed. That midfield they've invested in over five or six years now is really strong.
"They're a really well-balanced team who's ready (to) deliver.
"So we understand what we're up against is very impressive. And there's a reason everyone's talking about Richmond, and they're in the headlights, because their best is very good. So they'll love the space at Subiaco. So we need to get our hands on the ball."
Lyon revealed that Luke McPharlin would definitely return after missing last week with concussion. McPharlin failed a last-minute concussion test in Launceston but is right to go this week.
"He's passed it really early and feels a million bucks, and he trained really well," Lyon said.
Fremantle may be tempted to throw McPharlin forward at some stage in the absence of captain Matthew Pavlich, but Lyon was clear about his priorities with the All Australian defender.
"It is tempting. But he's such an important part of the back six. I think he's more of a swingman really. A bit like (Adam) Hunter used to be at the Eagles," he said.
"I think he's a better backman but you can swing him forward at the right time."
