The Magpies were under the pump coming into the game after big losses to Carlton and St Kilda, and were without five first-choice forwards, but responded in tremendous fashion to account for the Eagles by 22 points.
Leon Davis, 200-gamer Tarkyn Lockyer, Nick Maxwell, Shane O'Bree, Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan and Cameron Wood starred, but Malthouse was delighted with the way the whole side worked as a unit.
"They played to the strategies absolutely perfectly. There will always be mistakes made because it's a high pressured game but, to a man, everyone endeavoured to play their intended roles," Malthouse said.
"(Steele) Sidebottom is a third-game player and will gain so much from this game, and two of our older players in O'Bree and Lockyer played their roles so well, and Simon Prestigiacomo is always reliable."
With injuries to key players like Anthony Rocca, Paul Medhurst and Alan Didak, Davis stepped up yet again with a best-on-ground display, and Malthouse asked that people finally take notice of how good he has been for a long time.
"Leon has been outstanding the last four or five seasons. People like to remember too long ago when he was a young lad coming from the bush and breaking into a Melbourne team, and being terribly homesick," he said.
"Leon's last five years have been outstanding and he has got better as those years have gone with the improvement in his consistency."
Collingwood now has four wins after Saturday night and sits on the cusp of the top eight. Malthouse believes as few as 10 wins could enable a club to vie for eighth spot this season (in 2008 it was 12 wins), but all teams are likely to have a higher attrition rate with the incredible intensity of the modern game.
"I've noticed that bringing players up this year, who are regarded as stamina-type players who have had a feel for AFL football, are exhausted by half-time and cramping in the third quarter,” he said.
“In the past they (promoted players) can fit in better, but the gap between AFL football now and next level down is extraordinary. That's not because of the talent, but the intensity, and that's had a bearing on us.
"These seasons are not sprints, they are marathons. There is going to be an attrition rate this season (that is greater) and we've learned a lot about the intensity of the competition.
“Most of the players we've lost have been players that have had previous leg injuries and history shows that they happen when there is real duress.
“We are part way through a marathon and I think it could be a rare season where 10 wins could make the finals."
Capitalising on a stellar defensive effort, Collingwood’s forward line functioned well enough on Saturday night with Davis and John Anthony kicking three goals, Lockyer two and Dick also contributing.
Malthouse is confident Rocca, Travis Cloke, Didak, John McCarthy and Medhurst will be available for selection soon.
"Those players will be filtered in over the next one, two or three weeks. Logic says if you have your leading two or three goalkickers back in the side that you are going to be very productive," he said.
"We expect Rocca, Cloke, Didak and McCarthy, who a lot of people underestimate, and Medhurst available within one or two weeks."
