Sunrise reporter Teegan Dolling on working through violent Melbourne anti-war protest outside the Land Forces Expo

First there was the stench of OC spray in the air, then came the overwhelming smell of vomit, as protesters threw water balloons filled with sick at police, delegates and media.

Ducking for cover as padlocks, apples, chairs and horse manure were hurled towards anyone the activists assume held different views.

Their “anti-war anti-violence” protest continued by setting alight industrial plastic bins, left to burn with no way for firefighters to get through the chaos.

This was in the heart of Melbourne, peak hour on Tuesday as kids headed off to school and employees tried to commute into work.

Our city, once the most liveable in the world, has seen many protests over the past few years, but none this vile and violent.

The aggression came in waves, as police surged towards the 2000-strong group to remove them from the road, escort members of the public to safety, or to extinguish flames.

Inadvertently, the media were also shoved in the mayhem.

Antagonists did not listen to multiple calls to move, and reacted with attacks on police and cruelty towards police horses.

Aggression then rose towards the media. A group surrounded our crew live on air, throwing a bottle at the cameraman.

Footage from the scene captured the moment I tried to protect my colleague from the relentless abuse, only for the protesters to give rude gestures towards the camera.

The hostility forced our Sunrise colleagues to cut the feed so we could retreat to a safe place.

Peaceful activists gave out masks when OC was sprayed, asked if media were okay after copping abuse from ugly demonstrators and offered water, but they were in the minority.

Attempts to speak to protesters about their views on the Land Forces Expo, drowned out by swearing, antagonising remarks, and disgusting personal attacks too rude to repeat.

Unfortunately some of that goes to air during live rolling coverage, however we are also lucky we are in TV, as the pictures don’t lie.

Everyone has a right to protest, but there is a right way to do it - the police themselves are in a protest of their own, and lord do they deserve a pay rise after the brutality of today - a job too dangerous for many of us.

And as I finish this reflection of the six hours of reporting, the disgusting smells no longer linger and I can relax for the first time away from confrontation.

But there is still the tickle of OC spray in my throat, stinging sore eyes and a heavy feeling many Melburnians may be caught in this contradictory chaos and antagonising violence again as the week goes on.