Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse says the AFL has done the right thing by not increasing the number of teams in the finals series despite expansion.

And he'd 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."

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