The Kangaroos set up the win by kicking seven first-half goals while holding the Hawks goalless in the NAB Challenge encounter.

Final scores: North Melbourne 12.11 (83) to Hawthorn 6.7 (43).

Acting captain Brady Rawlings said the Kangaroos felt comfortable playing in Ballarat.

"It's a home away from home for us.

"This is the third time we've played here (this year).

"We know the ground," he said.

North Melbourne played two intra-club practice matches at Eureka Stadium earlier this year - the first in its community camp attracting an estimated 2500 people.

Rawlings said it was a great atmosphere, despite the crowd being smaller than early expectations.

Stormy conditions cut the attendance substantially, but the match still attracted about 5000 people.

While a wet start to the game affected the crowd, North Melbourne had few problems, adjusting far better than Hawthorn.

Rawlings said the Kangaroos stood up well in all aspects, as they reaped the rewards of first-half pressure and hardness.

A three-goal burst by Buddy Franklin in the third term provided one of the few highlights for the Hawks

North Melbourne had nine goals on the board before Franklin opened Hawthorn's account six minutes into the third quarter.

Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said the Kangaroos had adjusted to the conditions better, but his players had missed a "couple of sodas".

"They missed some goals, but when you're sitting on zero goals you need to nail a couple of shots from 30 metres out to at least give yourself some reward for some of your efforts - we couldn't do that.

"The second half, we were pretty competitive," he said.