The Magpies, who led by as many as 48 points in the third quarter, held on to record a 10-point win over the fast-finishing Bulldogs to claim second spot on the ladder.
After a tough encounter last week against the Brisbane Lions on a Gabba surface that has come under recent scrutiny, Ball conceded it was a combination of a drop off in intensity and tired legs that nearly cost the Pies for the second consecutive week.
The Magpies lead by 37 points at three-quarter time before the Bulldogs stormed home to reduce the margin to just nine points with five minutes remaining.
“I suppose you could take the easy way and say we worked pretty hard in the first three quarters and deserved to be that far ahead and possibly ran out of legs a little bit,” Ball told afl.com.au
“I think we will pick it (the game) apart during the week and see that we had enough of the footy - we just could have done things a bit better just to control the tempo of the game.”
Collingwood's eighth win of the season now sees the Magpies sitting second on the ladder, ahead of both Fremantle and St Kilda on percentage.
The 26-year-old Ball, who is relishing his role at the Magpies after finding his way to the club with pick 30 of the NAB AFL Draft, said the side was challenged by coach Mick Malthouse during the week for lapses in concentration which had proved costly in losses to both Geelong and the Brisbane Lions.
“I think the coach mentioned it the drop in intensity here and there - it was probably building before the last couple of weeks as well, so it was probably a good hit up for us to sharpen up that area,” he said.
“I think it was a pretty hard and tough game out there today. We certainly matched them in that area and that was one of the reasons we were able to get that good lead in the first three quarters.”
Despite the last quarter fade-out, Ball believes his Magpie teammates will take plenty of confidence from the win over a Bulldogs side many predicted would be premiership contenders in 2010.
“We knew it was going to be a big game - they needed the win as well,” he said.
“The result is a very important one for us; it was soured a little bit by how we went in the last quarter."
