Although admitting the Dockers weren't in top form in their 13-point win over St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Friday night, Lyon praised his side for persisting and finding a way to win.
"It's great to get the four points in Melbourne obviously," Lyon said post-match.
"I thought our effort was fantastic.
"I thought we just willed ourselves until it turned, and I thought we stuck at it.
"It was a really good lesson for our playing group about what's required at AFL level.
"You're not always going to be in form, you're not always going to dominate clearances, but you've got to find a way to hang on and then counter-punch, and I thought we did that tonight."
In his first match against his former club, Lyon was booed by St Kilda fans, and admitted it had been "emotionally a tough night".
But he refused to give the win any extra significance because of the "sideshow" that surrounded it.
"I certainly don't sit here with any different feeling," Lyon said.
"At the end of the day my players are hungry to be led, and I take that responsibility very seriously.
"I take no joy out of beating St Kilda Football Club other than getting the four points."
Fremantle was thrashed in clearances 43-30, despite giant ruckman Aaron Sandilands amassing 44 hit-outs.
Lyon said his team would work on that area of its game in preparation for next Friday night, when it faces another elite stoppage team, Carlton.
"They [St Kilda] have got some great midfielders…so it was no surprise what they did tonight," he said.
"We need to learn from it.
"We'll analyse it and…put it into the program more, train it, and aim to deliver against a great clearance team next week.
"Carlton are taking everyone to the cleaners, so we'll want to pick it up a little bit."
The win was Fremantle's first in Melbourne since round 13, 2010, and Lyon said the victory should give his players belief for future matches in Victoria.
"Confidence comes from actions," he said.
"They know that if they persist and they do the things we ask, that's going to give them a really good chance to win the game.
"Out of a victory like tonight, they understand the actions that are required to be successful at the level.
"We're a work in progress.
"We're a growing team and club, and good teams win interstate, and we're aiming to be a good team."
