COLLINGWOOD coach Mick Malthouse has blamed a lengthy break, rather than tactics, for his side's poor start to their NAB Cup quarter-final against Richmond.

The Magpies frequently had a vacant forward line in the first half of the 46-point win over Richmond last Thursday night.

Shane O'Bree was forced to try a 70m kick at goal on his non-preferred foot at one stage because there were no team-mates in the forward 50.

Collingwood had nearly three weeks off between their round-one NAB Cup win over West Coast and the Richmond quarter-final.

The Magpies were much more fluent in the second half, beating the Tigers by 46 points and setting up Friday night's semi-final against Essendon.

"I wasn't happy with our game last week, I don't think anyone was, really," Malthouse said on Monday.

"Structurally, we were very unsound, but ... at this time of year I don't think you can get anything flowing unless you have continual games on a week-to-week basis.

"I'm certainly not blaming anyone, we're happy to have the big break, but it has been a long time between drinks."

Malthouse is also unconcerned about the quality of play so far in the pre-season.

Sides have experimented with flooding and zones, but he said there were also plenty of concerns about the state of the game before Sydney won the 2005 premiership.

"This is nothing new, what we're encountering, people will restructure until such time as they find the right methodology that will suit their side," he said.

"I don't think every side fits into the same box, because if you try to do that, you probably fall under the spell of someone who wants you to do it, and does it better.

"You've got to acknowledge, but is your side capable of doing it? And if they're not capable of doing it, why do it?"

One aspect of the pre-season that has predictably delighted Malthouse has been the introduction of two substitutes on the interchange bench.

He said the NAB Cup set-up of six interchange and two substitutes would be the ideal set-up for the regular season.

Malthouse is a big fan of substitutes, saying they lessen the impact of injuries during a match.

"That's been a revelation - it's given supporters the opportunity to see their side not impaired by losing one or two players," he said.

"It's remarkable that we go to a longer game and reduce our playing list.

"It's played by marathoners who sprint, why can't we lift it up another two (interchange players)?

"The perfect formula for me is exactly how it is at the moment."

Collingwood are likely to consider All-Australian Paul Medhurst, Chris Dawes and Brad Dick for the Essendon game, but key forward Sean Rusling is another week from resuming.