Protesters are becoming more violent towards police, the force says as eight are sought for allegedly pelting officers with rocks at a rally.
Melbourne's CBD descended into chaos when counter-protesters clashed with police during the anti-immigration March for Australia demonstration on October 19.
Officers were confronted by protesters hurling rocks, bottles, broken glass and rotten fruit, which left two members hospitalised, Victoria Police said.
A female sergeant whose hand was broken and a male senior constable whose leg was gashed have since returned to work.
Releasing the photos of eight protesters who police allege were involved in assaulting police, Detective Inspector Geoff Owen said officers were increasingly bearing the brunt of violence at protests.
"Police support peaceful protests, but not to the point where they just want to use the protest as a mechanism to have a crack at or discharge missiles at police," he told reporters on Thursday.
Anti-racist protesters condemned police tactics such as flash-bangs, pepper spray and rubber bullets, saying police had "praised the far-right hate march".
Det Insp Owen said it was fair to infer the motive behind the alleged actions because protesters had brought bags of rocks, which aren't normally found on CBD streets.
A 24-year-old Corio man has been charged with several offences after allegedly throwing a rock at an officer at the protest. He was bailed and will appear before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on November 20.
Police are resorting to public help to track down the other eight accused, with many concealing their identities with face masks.
The state's Labor government watered down a promise from December to ban the use of face masks at protests over fears of a legal challenge.
Legislation introduced to Victorian parliament on Wednesday would instead allow police to order masks to be removed if a protester is committing or about to commit a criminal offence.
Police Minister Anthony Carbines said the powers were another tool to address the "disgusting and violent behaviour" witnessed on October 19.
