NATHAN Buckley says the Magpies' stuttering start to the season has unearthed a crop of players willing to take an extra step for the good of the team.

The Pies' one-point triumph over Essendon on Anzac Day was their third win from five games after an injury-hit few weeks.

Buckley said the result, achieved in wet conditions at the MCG after a four-day break, was the closest they'd come to a four-quarter performance this year.

He also said he was been pleased by players such as Dayne Beams, Sharrod Wellingham, Steele Sidebottom and Jarryd Blair taking on expanded roles and showing maturity with a selection of senior players unavailable. 

"We're now finding out there are individuals within the club that when they're asked to find a little bit extra and play a role for the team, they're able to do that," Buckley said.

"I think we've been able to build as a footy club in that five weeks. Take the win-loss out of it, we've been able to build and develop players really well in the last five weeks at the elite level."

Buckley said he set individual challenges for his players, and had asked Dane Swan to kick goals this week after directing him to focus on clearances and hard-ball gets against Port Adelaide.

Swan responded with a three-goal, 42-possession, 13-clearance game, which won him the Anzac medal.

Another player set a task by Buckley was Martin Clarke, who was asked to tag Brent Stanton after a few weeks of playing off half-back and on the wing.

Clarke kept Stanton, who has averaged 29 touches in four games, to 13 for the game, just two of which came in the first half.

Swan said Clarke had been determined to make a statement after returning from Ireland, but "wouldn't have believed it" if they'd thought he would be so successful against the Essendon midfielder in the first half.

Buckley said the Pies had "gradually improved" over the first five weeks, and now had to consolidate.

"We've exposed ourselves to the level of football we're capable of despite the personnel that is out, or still to come back," he said.

"We set ourselves a level for the rest of the season that we need to be able to reach.

"It's a great progression, but there's clearly plenty of work to do."

Jennifer Witham is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow her on Twitter @AFL_JenWitham.