The Blues omitted six players among seven changes to the side that lost to the Brisbane Lions last week ahead of Saturday's game against Greater Western Sydney at Etihad Stadium.

Malthouse said that it was not because of the dropped players that his team had fallen to 1-5, asserting that he had been keen on getting members of his best 22 back into the team.

"There's a few words that really irk me. One is when you change a player at the end of the year, that you 'cut deep', [that] they've 'got rid of'. I hate those words," Malthouse said on Friday.

"And the same here, 'wield the axe'. Yeah for all intents and purposes that's the word, but the reality is this. We rarely ever whinge and moan about who's in and who's out of the side. But we lost [Dale] Thomas in the first minute of the season, and he's just come back. We lost [Simon] White the next week in the first three minutes," Malthouse said.

The versatile White joins Andrew Carrazzo, Chris Yarran, Jason Tutt, Matthew Watson, Troy Menzel and Matthew Dick as inclusions at Visy Park, with Liam Jones, Dylan Buckley, Mark Whiley, Blaine Boekhorst, Nick Graham and Clem Smith dropped, alongside the injured Andrew Walker.

"We wanted Yarran back in, so the logical thing is you find a half-back that's going to replace. We wanted White back in because of leadership and his experience and his strength, so someone has to make way," Malthouse said.

"Watson's been in very good nick in the twos, so we wanted to give him a reward, as has Menzel, who's been injured.

"You're actually making way for players, on top of that certain players are young players, and they're actually pretty cooked, albeit that we will play them in the reserves at a lesser intensity."

The veteran coach was asked about key forward Jones. Prior to the season, Malthouse had suggested that 40 goals would be a good result for the former Bulldog. Jones makes way on the back of six goals in as many games, with the coach conceding that Jones was yet to grasp how the Blues' forward line is supposed to operate.

"I expected that he would pick up our structures quicker."

Malthouse said that Jones was acutely aware of his issues and was trying to redress them.

"There's no question he'll be back in the side when he picks it up."

Malthouse added that Jones' output had also been significantly diminished due to inaccurate kicking for goal. Jones has 6.9 for the season, and has also missed numerous shots all together. Former Collingwood and Kangaroos spearhead Saverio Rocca, who has been brought in by the Blues as a forwards consultant, is working to remedy Jones' technique.

"[Jones] hasn't been as bad as people think," he said.

"I think what he's trying to do is he's looking for more distance, and falls off the ball a little bit."

Malthouse also believed it was unfair to single out the quiet final-quarter performances of leaders Marc Murphy and Bryce Gibbs in last week's defeat. Both came under heavy criticism as Carlton faded against the lowly Lions, but Malthouse stood up for his star midfielders.

"It takes more than one player."

Malthouse made note of the pair's attitude at the three-quarter-time huddle.

"They gave themselves probably too much with regard to worrying about everyone else."