Megan Hustwaite, 24, was out with ex-Ballarat basketballer Rachel Jarry after watching the cricket at the MCG when the pair were set upon by a group armed with knives.

While Ms Jarry received bruising, Ms Hustwaite suffered a fractured nose and cheekbone as she was thrown to the ground, kicked and punched.

She received x-rays yesterday and will find out the extent of the damage today.

The former Ballarat High School student said she couldn’t believe what was happening to her in the early hours of Sunday morning.

“The first thing I thought was ‘I’ve never been hit before – I don’t know what to do’,” she said.

“They took my handbag then went after Rachel. I just remember thinking ‘please don’t break her leg or do something – because her body is her career’.”

Ms Hustwaite said the group eventually left the pair, who then flagged down security guards and spoke to police soon after.

“My face was covered in blood – I didn’t even realise it until the ambulance guys told me,” she said.

“We were pretty shocked.”

She said the paramedic who treated her was in her year level at Ballarat High School, but only recognised her when he had wiped away the blood.

Ms Hustwaite said she believed the attack was completely random and only happened because they were in the “wrong place at the wrong time”.

“It has probably made me a bit hesitant about going out in the city, but I won’t let it beat me,” she said.

“I just think (the attackers) are gutless. I pity them if they think they have to behave like that.”

Ms Hustwaite thanked friends, family and well-wishers for the large number of phone calls and messages of support she had received since the weekend.

“Everyone has just been amazing – it’s great to know so many people out there are thinking of you.”