Cam McCarthy, brought to the club from Greater Western Sydney, and Shane Kersten, from Geelong, managed just one goal and 19 disposals combined as the Cats bagged the points with an 18.7 (115) to 10.13 (73) win at Subiaco Oval.
Running machine Brad Hill, who joined brother Stephen at Fremantle after three premierships with Hawthorn, collected 17 disposals and kicked one goal.
Defender Joel Hamling, who was part of the Western Bulldogs’ 2016 premiership side, was kept busy, with the Cats clinical inside their forward 50.
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READ NOW“I think everyone will be better,” Lyon said post match. “I don’t think there were any standouts, so I think they all have improvement, as our whole team does, as I have and our coaching panel.
“We have to go ahead and improve because we didn’t get the result we wanted.
“But we’ll continue to work hard and build on our effort. There is plenty of growth in us.”
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The Dockers looked up to the challenge in the early stages but were unable to match last year’s preliminary finalists over four quarters.
Tom Hawkins, Patrick Dangerfield, Steven Motlop and Lincoln McCarthy kicked three goals each for the Cats.
Mitch Duncan and Joel Selwood got plenty of the ball for the visitors, while Dangerfield’s 24 disposals and haul of goals gave him the edge in the midfield battle with Dockers skipper Nat Fyfe, who had 28 disposals and kicked one goal.
Former Fremantle skipper David Mundy led the Dockers for disposals with 31, with Fyfe next up.
The Dockers next play Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.