Malthouse said the Pies' overall performance in the 87-point win as opposed to last week's against Port Adelaide where they dropped out of the contest for short periods but still came away with a hefty win was more consistent, but was realistic it was early days yet.
"I wasn't overly happy in the first half because I thought we mucked around with the ball a bit but once we started getting our forwards in position, then we had targets and on top of that, we were able to have good crumbing players which I thought we lacked a bit last week," he said.
"The players were working together a bit better and I thought defensively all over the ground we were a bit better than last week.
"It's another step. Certainly, we could criticise last week and laugh it off - 75 points - but the end result is you've got to be happy with the way you play, and we're better this week than what we were last week, I believe anyway.
"I don't know whether or not it was complete, but it was an early April game and our aim is to be consistent over a long period."
Malthouse said Nick Maxwell remains on track to play his first game for the year in the Magpies' blockbuster round three clash with Carlton on Friday night at the MCG.
The skipper is expected to return from internal injuries he sustained in the NAB Cup semi final against West Coast in early March to stand alongside his teammates when the club unfurls its 2010 premiership flag ahead of the game.
"I think he's very close. He's trained very well this week and it was probably precautionary really, we just said, 'No, don't worry about it, get another week under your belt'," coach Mick Malthouse after Saturday's 87-point win over North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.
"He'd be certainly putting his hand up for next week, which gives us a very good selection dilemma."
Maxwell declared himself a certain starter for the clash with the Blues in an interview with Leigh Matthews on afl.com.au's Talking Footy on Friday.
The Magpies entered the clash with the Kangaroos unchanged from last week with Leon Davis remaining out after he was a late withdrawal from the side that crushed Port Adelaide in round one.
Malthouse said he would be considered to come in next week if he got through the VFL on Sunday.
"He's a bit stiff he's not in the side, quite frankly," he said.
"He would have been had someone not gone as well as they should have last week.
"So under those circumstances, we've got a good lift of kids underneath. There's a dozen that could individually step in.
"I'm not saying all 12 would come in together. Cameron Wood is rucking very well; the best he's rucked since being at the football club.
"Brad Dick isn't fair off it and there's a couple of others."
Heath Shaw was subbed off for Andrew Krakouer in the third quarter as he was suffering from general soreness.
