And he would like to see the finals sharpened up even further, suggesting a top six from next season's 18-team competition would make for a better September.
Malthouse said mediocrity should not be rewarded, and was relieved to see the league decide this week to keep an eight-team finals series at least until 2013.
"What makes elite sport elite is that it's hard to make it (to the finals)," Malthouse said.
"Mediocrity, it just kills a competition. We've got to make sure it's something worthwhile to fight for, rather than falling into a finals series."
Malthouse believes the addition of Greater Western Sydney next season will again weaken the competition's standard, although it will eventually rise back and beyond its current level.
But he said the temporary drop-off in overall standard made it more important to maintain a top-quality finals series.
"We're already seeing when you take out of our football community 100 players and distribute them to two new sides, you automatically weaken the standard of the competition. It drops marginally," he said.
"The standard of the competition is only as strong as its weakest link.
"Let's keep the elite format of making the finals.
"Make it as hard as you can to make the finals series, and you'll have a great finals series.
"Is it commercial value or is it to see a great competition? If you want to really see the best sides, make them earn a spot in a top six - six out of 18, that would test sides."
Meanwhile, Malthouse is not backing away from the on-air radio comments that infuriated Melbourne counterpart Dean Bailey.
He labelled Demons forward Addam Maric a cheat for claiming a disputed goal in a match last weekend, saying it was important players do not falsely claim goals and play the game in the right spirit.
The Collingwood coach was commentating on the match for Melbourne radio station SEN.
When asked about the incident and whether he would like it if one of his players was similarly labelled, Malthouse said: "If he did, he did (cheat). Have a look at it.
"We have an obligation to this game, a massive obligation to this game."
Bailey, whose Demons were belted by 47 points by Carlton, had expressed his anger this week about what Malthouse said.
Collingwood skipper Nick Maxwell said Malthouse's comments were meant as part of a wider discussion on fair play in the sport.
"It's been blown out of all proportion. He never mentions any player, it was more a broad opinion on what would happen in that situation," Maxwell said this week.
- AAP
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, vic, collingwood-3066, melbourne-3000 First posted June 3, 2011 11:43:00
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