Jamarra Ugle-Hagan reveals just how close he was to Love Machine shooting

The Western Bulldogs forward – who has not played this season after dealing with personal issues – said he had spoken to Victoria Police on Monday, in the aftermath of the Love Machine incident, which left him “traumatised”.

Ugle-Hagan was at the venue when shots were fired about 2.25am on Sunday but he maintained he was being treated “as a witness”.

“It was that close to me, I’m lucky I wasn’t hit,” Ugle-Hagan told the Herald Sun on Tuesday.

“I wasn’t involved with anything, as the police know.

“There was 20 people around me and probably another 100 at the venue, but my name is being mentioned like I have some kind of part in it.

“I’m linked just by being there. It’s trial by media.

“It is out of my control.

“It is traumatising and no one should be near or see any of that.”

Ugle-Hagan, 23, was getting into an rideshare vehicle at the time of the gunshots and said the incident had had a “massive” effect on him mentally over recent days.

“It definitely takes a massive toll on my anxiety and stress,” he said.

“It is even scary to just walk around as it happened right behind me.”

He conceded that being at the Malvern Road nightspot — which has been at the centre of three violent attacks in recent weeks — at that time of the morning was not ideal on his behalf.

Police were called to the venue after reports of a fight between a group of people outside the club early on Sunday morning, with Victoria Police saying on Sunday that there had been no injuries reported after a firearm had been discharged.

The Western Bulldogs were contacted on Monday and said it was a police matter.

Ugle-Hagan — who was not at the club again on Tuesday — is contracted at the Bulldogs for next season and while trade speculation has been rampant, he says he remains committed to returning to football.

“People need to understand I’m safe,” he said.

“Which is the biggest thing – I’m not even involved, but I can’t let this get to me.

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“I’m lucky I’m alive and nothing happened, as it was only a metre away (from me).”

The forward, who has played 67 games, remains yet to discuss whether he will seek a trade at the end of last season, having told this masthead recently that he was “mentally getting better” having returned from a stint at a wellness retreat in northern New South Wales earlier this year.

In a powerful and emotional interview in June, Ugle-Hagan laid bare the mental struggles he had endured, with the Bulldogs having granted him personal leave for a portion of the season.