COLLINGWOOD coach Mick Malthouse is quietly content with his side’s rich vein of form ahead of next week’s top-of-the-table clash with Geelong.

The Magpies jumped to a 50-point half-time lead against Carlton at the MCG on Saturday afternoon before easing to win by eight goals, 15.15 (105) to 9.3 (57).

Malthouse said it was too hard to say whether there was a stage of the win where Collingwood looked its most ominous for the season.

Watch Dayne Beams speak to CTV in the MCG rooms after the win

“I just think that it’s fair to say if you hold a side down to two goals to half time in pretty [good] conditions, you’re going OK,” he said.

Malthouse knew the Blues would be eager to atone for their round-six loss to the Pies, so he was thrilled with the way his side quickly snuffed out the challenge.

But this week his players face the Cats, who they haven’t beaten since round nine, 2008.

• Submit your 3, 2, 1 votes in the win over Carlton

“I guess that’s the test,” Malthouse said.

“I don’t want to make any rash predictions ... the test is each week.

“[This week] I guess the Collingwood-Carlton thing seemed to be pretty big. [They are] fighting for a place in the eight [and] we met that challenge.

“Next week is another challenge ... there’s never for want of challenges in the AFL.”

Watch the boys sing the song after the big win

Geelong won their round-nine encounter by six goals and Malthouse would not be drawn on whether he felt Collingwood would be better equipped on this occasion.

However, he did point out that he didn’t think the margin was so great between the two teams.

“I didn’t think we were that bad last time,” he said.

“We made a couple of bad errors in front of goal.”

Though the Pies were so dominant early, the Blues managed to kick six goals in the last quarter to add some respectability to the scoreboard.

But Malthouse wasn’t fussed.

“We were one down and they’re a good football side,” he said.

“You don’t own the scoreboard. The opposition is a quality side, they’re in the eight and they played good footy.”

The only real concern for Collingwood was a bruised knee to midfielder Sharrod Wellingham.

Malthouse said that with the match under control, there was no need to put the tagger back on in the second half.

Heath Shaw (back) is still to return but seems a likely inclusion for next week.

“He trained on Friday,” Malthouse said.

“In fact, he looked pretty good on Friday after we’d [already] made selection. But I think if we need to be cautious we need to be cautious.”