Thursday night's MCG match will be the fourth Spud's Game, where the Saints honour Danny "Spud" Frawley and raise awareness for mental health, five years after the club great's sudden death.
His legacy is profound, with the Danny Frawley Centre built at St Kilda's Moorabbin home ground.
Tim Membrey's recent experiences also underscore the importance of the cause. As Lyon notes, it's an "ongoing fight".
After pulling out of St Kilda's elimination final last September because of personal issues, Membrey returned to the AFL with three goals on Saturday night in the narrow loss to Geelong.
Membrey spoke of his struggles before the Geelong game, urging others to follow his example and ask for help if they need it.
"I walked over to him, just before he ran out (against Geelong), and said how proud I am of where you are and where you've gotten yourself to," Lyon said.
"The beauty is, we're all on a pendulum - there's perfect and there's zero, and we all move along it, depending on our 'win-loss'.
"As a coach, you do get stressed. As players, it's the same thing.
"He has obviously shifted on the pendulum. It's not fixed for any of us - that's important to acknowledge and then, that takes away for stigma for anyone."
But Lyon is also a pragmatist. Once the game starts, there's work to be done.
Saints coach Ross Lyon (2L) talks tactics with his assistants during a break against Geelong. (Julian Smith/AAP PHOTOS)
The Magpies' premiership defence is wobbly after starting the season with losses to the Sydney teams, while Lyon has spoken repeatedly of the Saints' need to "button down" their game after a poor first half against the Cats.
Somewhere, Frawley himself is yelling "get on with it".
"Emotion's not going to get it done for either team. Our job is to play good footy ... honour the day with commensurate effort," Lyon said.
St Kilda have welcomed back two-time best and fairest Jack Sinclair from a calf injury, and the All Australian will give them a major boost with his run and leadership at half-back.
Zak Jones has also been recalled for his first game since round 20 last year, with Brad Crouch dropped.
Collingwood have recalled premiership duo Billy Frampton and Tom Mitchell, along with forward Reef McInnes.
Will Hoskin-Elliott (managed) will miss the game, while Charlie Dean and Ash Johnson have been omitted.
Magpies coach Craig McRae has no doubt his side face a stern test of their ability to pick apart the Saints' defensive measures.
"We can only control what we can, can't we?," McRae said.
"We don't know what St Kilda are gonna bring this week other than a fierce, competitive, defensive game.
"It could be a struggle, a lot of numbers back, you know - parking the bus - and we have to fight through that."
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