Cloke was outstanding with four goals - all in the first half - with Ball (17 touches and an equal game-high nine tackles) and Jolly (21 hit-outs) both influential.
Click here to bid on the match-worn ANZAC Day guernseys.
But the dual premiership coach said numbers alone were a poor way to judge the players' contributions.
"There seems to be a group or a section that is quite determined to make sure Ball is judged by stats," Malthouse said post-match.
"His influence around the club, on the ground and whether he's not getting it or not getting it is outstanding.
"And Jolly - the way he is with our young ruckmen and the way he is with the players … both boys have been outstanding for us."
Malthouse was asked whether Cloke's performance would prove a turning point in his career.
"How do you know? He's kicked a couple of goals and he's kicked bags before," he said.
"I don't have any trouble with Travis. The media seem to have a massive trouble with him. We'd love him to kick goals all of the time and he's kicked a couple of very, very good goals today.
"One was probably a 50/50 goal and why not go for it? As it turned it, it went through, so maybe it was his day."
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Watch Chris Dawes speak to CTV in the MCG rooms after the ANZAC Day win.Malthouse was also pleased with inclusions Nathan Brown, Chris Dawes and Ben Reid.
"The intensity from seconds to firsts has never been a bigger gulf," he said.
"The test is not how good you play in the seconds or the VFL - it's how you come up and fit into the structures.
"The three players did that … there are areas the three of them have to improve, but you'd expect that when players to come up from the VFL."
