After outmuscling Gold Coast at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, Malthouse said he could see his players growing in confidence with wins at this point of the season remaining valuable for team morale.
With just seven victories from 19 games, the Blues are well out of the race to play finals after a season that promised plenty, with Malthouse saying in March they were approaching their premiership window.
Five talking points: Carlton v Gold Coast
There was a lot for the coach to smile about on Saturday afternoon, however, and he said the players were starting to understand what their big picture goal was.
"It was almost like, we're not good enough and therefore we're not going to win a premiership so a premiership's the last thing we want to talk about," Malthouse said.
"Internally I want to say, 'That's got to be our aim'.
"It certainly can't happen this year, because mathematically it can't happen, and I'm not saying it's going to happen next year.
"But you've got to take steps in your mind because that's what you're playing for."
The Blues built a 46-point lead in a strong first half on Saturday, but the Suns were able to muster a more competitive effort after half-time, with the final margin 39 points.
Malthouse said there was value in a rare win as the Blues grind out the season.
"I think it's good for our morale and it's good for cementing in the mind that this is the way we want to go … we want to play this type of football," he said.
"We've had a couple of losses that haven't been overly good, but by and large we've been highly competitive.
"You can be good and lose, [but] at some stage you've got to be good and win.
"It wasn't a great last half, I'll go along with that, but we kept them at bay."
Malthouse said the group he took over ahead of the 2013 season played in their shells and "confidence wasn't exactly the highest you'd see".
However, he singled out Sam Rowe, Simon White and David Ellard as players who were starting to play their respective roles with more belief.
He was clearly thrilled with Irishman Ciaran Sheehan, who used the ball superbly on debut.
"It's terrific, because it gives us another player," he said.
On Chris Judd, who continued a strong run of form with 27 possessions, nine clearances and two goals, Malthouse said: "He's certainly playing some good footy".
However, the coach was not preparing to talk the former captain out of retirement if that was the path he chose.
"I don’t talk people back in from retirement, but if he says to me, 'I reckon I can go [again next year]', I'll certainly be saying, 'so do I'."
Chris Yarran suffered a corked calf and was substituted early in the first half, with Malthouse saying the club would be conservative with his recovery, meaning it could be the end of his season.
There was a lot for the coach to smile about on Saturday afternoon, however, and he said the players were starting to understand what their big picture goal was.
"It was almost like, we're not good enough and therefore we're not going to win a premiership so a premiership's the last thing we want to talk about," Malthouse said.
"Internally I want to say, 'That's got to be our aim'.
"It certainly can't happen this year, because mathematically it can't happen, and I'm not saying it's going to happen next year.
"But you've got to take steps in your mind because that's what you're playing for."
The Blues built a 46-point lead in a strong first half on Saturday, but the Suns were able to muster a more competitive effort after half-time, with the final margin 39 points.
Malthouse said there was value in a rare win as the Blues grind out the season.
"I think it's good for our morale and it's good for cementing in the mind that this is the way we want to go … we want to play this type of football," he said.
"We've had a couple of losses that haven't been overly good, but by and large we've been highly competitive.
"You can be good and lose, [but] at some stage you've got to be good and win.
"It wasn't a great last half, I'll go along with that, but we kept them at bay."
Malthouse said the group he took over ahead of the 2013 season played in their shells and "confidence wasn't exactly the highest you'd see".
However, he singled out Sam Rowe, Simon White and David Ellard as players who were starting to play their respective roles with more belief.
He was clearly thrilled with Irishman Ciaran Sheehan, who used the ball superbly on debut.
"It's terrific, because it gives us another player," he said.
On Chris Judd, who continued a strong run of form with 27 possessions, nine clearances and two goals, Malthouse said: "He's certainly playing some good footy".
However, the coach was not preparing to talk the former captain out of retirement if that was the path he chose.
"I don’t talk people back in from retirement, but if he says to me, 'I reckon I can go [again next year]', I'll certainly be saying, 'so do I'."
Chris Yarran suffered a corked calf and was substituted early in the first half, with Malthouse saying the club would be conservative with his recovery, meaning it could be the end of his season.
