The Saints, missing stars including Nick Riewoldt, Lenny Hayes, Justin Koschitzke, Sam Gilbert and Clint Jones, beat the Lions by 29 points before a thrilling draw with the Bombers.
"It was a really good hitout," Lyon said. "I was a bit uncertain exactly what to expect coming in.
"We had 11 or 12 first, second and third years that haven't played much footy. We've been confident of the talent that sits within them but they haven't had much opportunity.
"I thought most of them showed bits and pieces tonight, so there's a bit underneath that not many people expected."
Lyon singled out super-quick Western Australian draftee Tom Ledger for particular praise.
"We've been excited by him on the track and he transferred that into the game; [he] competed well and has beautiful kicking skills," Lyon said.
In the absence of other more senior key position players, Lyon was also happy with big men Will Johnson, Daniel Archer and former Cat Ryan Gamble.
"I think they all impacted," he said. "Without the established talls there, they really gave us some targets and some competing up there.
"Archer, with the new rule, showed the capacity of the ruck and forward, so that was really positive."
Gamble, delisted by Geelong at the end of last season and picked by the Saints with pick 90 in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft, kicked three goals in the win over the Lions and added another against the Bombers to put himself in the frame for round one selection.
"In the end you pick yourself and he certainly made the most of his opportunities tonight," Lyon said.
"He's well schooled out of a really good football education and he's sort of slotted straight in. If he keeps playing like that he probably picks himself."
Lyon forecast the return of several stars, including Riewoldt, Hayes and Jones, for the Saints' next assignment, as the beaten grand finalists build towards a round one showdown with Geelong on the back of a shortened pre-season.
"What have they been back? Five or six weeks. It's not much," Lyon said.
"Virtually we've done no competitive work at all. A fair bit of footy work, but no contact pretty much.
"If they're conditioned to play, we'll play them. It's really important we get them ready for round one."
Barring draws in both remaining NAB Cup round one pool match-ups this weekend, the Saints will progress to the second round.
