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Ball found plenty of the footy, kicked the second goal of Collingwood's six-point loss to Williamstown and tackled strongly in his second game back after last year's operation.
He played between about 85 per cent of the game at Williamstown's Burbank Oval on Sunday afternoon.
While the 28-year-old is inching closer to an AFL return, his young teammate Frost – who made his AFL debut in round one this year and also played in round three against Hawthorn – suffered a setback against the Seagulls.
Frost injured his right knee in the third quarter and hobbled to the bench, where it was suspected he had suffered an injury to his posterior cruciate ligament.
The 21-year-old elevated rookie, who has previously battled problems with his hips, was visibly upset as he was being treated. Frost was on crutches after the game.
Collingwood's VFL coach Dale Tapping said Ball's game was another positive step for him in his bid to return to the seniors.
The VFL has a league-wide bye next weekend for a representative game against the WAFL but Tapping said Ball could still push for selection in the Pies' round eight clash against Geelong without playing another VFL match.
"We've got a bye next week so it's an interesting week in regards to that so he loses a week … maybe another week on the track for him could bring him up again," he said.
"I'm sure he'll find his way back in there at some point, whether it's in two weeks' time or three weeks' time. No doubt we're not going to have him for too much longer."
Alex Fasolo and Alan Didak also had lively moments with the former kicking the Pies' opening goal of the game – as well as one in the close final term – while Didak landed an impressive snap in the third quarter.
Tapping said Fasolo had "worked pretty hard" after being omitted from the senior team while Didak, who was playing in his fifth VFL game after a pre-season hamstring injury, had "put together a really good block of footy".
"I thought [Didak's] work rate was good. His ability to get from contest to contest was really good," he said.
"His tackling and his transition work was as good as it's been all year.
"He's been really good for four or five weeks now so again, if they need him, he's ready."
Fasolo was involved in a second quarter incident that saw a Williamstown player hit the deck and his teammates remonstrate but Tapping said he didn't see it.
Ben Hudson (soreness) and Ben Johnson (calf) didn't play although the veteran ruckman was there to support the side.
Irishman Caolan Mooney impressed with five goals, including a spate of three in the second quarter, and Marley Williams was good in the first three quarters.
Jennifer Phelan is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow her on Twitter @AFL_JenPhelan.
