Lyon explains that the tradition is based in part on an "appetite for the contest"
"Obviously a lot went right (against North Melbourne)," he said.
"I thought our appetite for the contest was really strong and we didn't relent until the final siren. So when you are giving that sort of effort for a long period you know you are mentally tuned in because it is easy once the scoreboard ticks away to sort of drop in some areas."
So if that is traditional St Kilda, it is certainly frightening. But of interest, and undoubtedly a matter of alarm for the 15 other clubs, is that there is another game plan which the coach has been tinkering with and was in operation against the Sydney Swans last week and during the pre-season.
Also alarming for the other clubs is that the Saints set up this huge win in the first quarter, before the incredible feats of skipper Nick Riewoldt were on display and with their other power forward Justin Koschitzke sitting on the sidelines.
"(It was) really pleasing to have a spread of goalkickers and the aim is going to be to do it against a quality team in defence who work really well together next week," Lyon said of the forthcoming battle with Collingwood.
"(Goddard) certainly has some capabilities up forward. He did it a couple of times last year. We spoke about it pre-season, about pushing Dal Santo and Montagna and Goddard and Gram forward and Goddard was the one tonight who spent a bit more time forward.
"(But) they had plenty of supply, didn't they? The game really opened up so you've got a discount that a little bit, but you can only do what you can do at this level."
Riewoldt, in the end, was outstanding and in many ways that is to be expected and also "traditional", but Lyon revealed after the win the Saints of 2010 have more depth to their style.
"Last week was a different sort of a game and we constructed a different game on purpose and tonight we came to pay our traditional game, so we've got a couple of styles that we can go to we think and they look a little bit different," he said.
As expected, Lyon was thrilled with the 104-point flogging of North which - by conceding just 39 points - reminded everyone of St Kilda's stunning defensive record last year.
He said the club was set for North Melbourne for the Roos were one of three teams who beat the Saints last year and had previously given them trouble.
"The Kangaroos have jumped us the last few times we've played them, so we were conscious of trying to grab hold of the game early and clearly we did that," he said.
'North Melbourne's pre-season was really quite strong and they pushed Port Adelaide in the end last week, so it was always going to be tough encounter, so it was good to come and do what we did.
"To get the fans excited was pretty good."
