2012 NAB Cup action in Ballarat
North Melbourne and Western Bulldogs played in Ballarat's first NAB Cup match this year.
That fixture at Eureka Stadium followed a series of AFL pre-season practice matches.
The Kangaroos and Bulldogs also faced off in a practice match in Ballarat in 2011.
North Melbourne will meet Gold Coast Suns in Townsville in the second round of the cup and then take on Geelong at Geelong in round three.
The AFL released the NAB draw this morning, with Wangaratta and Casey Fields at Cranbourne being the only regional venues in Victoria allocated NAB Cup matches.
Venues for practice matches on March 15-16-17, the same weekend as the NAB Cup grand final, are yet to be announced.