Watch: Mick Malthouse addresses the media in the ANZ Stadium after the win.

COLLINGWOOD coach Michael Malthouse says he has come away from ANZ Stadium a happy man after his side withstood a late Sydney Swans surge to claim victory in a game he believed resembled a finals-like contest.

The Magpies let slip a 30-point lead during the third term to trail by a point midway through the final quarter, but held on thanks to some steady heads and a clutch of contested marks - including one from the best on ground Travis Cloke - in the dying stages.

Malthouse says he has always been in awe of the Sydney Swans, describing their style of game as hard, fair and "finals footy".

"If you're lucky enough to make September, go back and revisit your Sydney game because that's what it is all about," Malthouse said after the match.

"There is a lot to like about beating Sydney."

While pleased to come away with the four premiership points, Malthouse said he was at a loss to explain the sloppiness in front of goal that saw the Magpies kick a season-high 21 behinds.

Cloke had four behinds, including one from less than 10m out, while Dale Thomas and Chris Dawes both had three behinds.

Malthouse said there would have been no prospect of any Swans comeback had the Magpies kicked straight.

"It wouldn't have been see-sawing if we had kicked straight," Malthouse said.

"We controlled enough of the ball to put it beyond their reach when we were five [goals] in front.

Watch: Heath Shaw on CTV after the win.

"Our set shots were something to be erased hopefully from our bank for the following 10 games or whatever we have got left."

The Magpies were also behind in terms of contested possessions, where the Swans had the edge 152-144 on the night.

Malthouse described not winning the contested possession count as "uncharacteristic".

Collingwood said Alan Didak left the game in the third term, when he was replaced with John McCarthy, with calf soreness.