The Australian Football Hall of Fame welcomed a quartet of new members on Tuesday night after Nathan Burke, Debbie Lee, Robert Wiley and Chris Judd were inducted for their efforts across their lives in our indigenous code.

Having once been the proud owner of the most games played for St Kilda after hanging up his boots after 323 appearances in a red, white and black guernsey, Burke entered the annals as the first inductee of the night.

Despite never claiming the ultimate team success, Burke finished his playing career as a four-time All-Australian and is the current head coach of the Western Bulldogs AFLW team.

Following the Saints great was women's football pioneer, and Burke's contemporary at the Whitten Oval, Debbie Lee.

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Lee is credited with playing upwards of 300 games in the VWFL from 1991 until 2014 and claimed the league's best and fairest award - the Helen Lambert Medal - on five occasions and was deemed an All-Australian six times.

Her tireless works to promote the code and her trailblazing efforts to create pathways for future generations of women to follow in her studded steps also saw her become the Hall's first-ever female inductee.

VFL and WAFL premiership champion Robert Wiley's name was next on the docket due to his eight best and fairests in the west for Perth, as well as his time as a Tiger during the early eighties in Melbourne.

The 66-year-old's inclusion in the game's Hall of Fame follows his induction into the Western Australian iteration in 2004.

Following Wiley was another former Eagle in dual Brownlow medalist and first-ballot inductee, Chris Judd.

The 31-year-old's invitation came as no surprise to anyone that witnessed his deeds across 279 games for West Coast and Carlton, with the superstar's list of honours also requiring their own postcode.

Perhaps the greatest illustration of Judd's dominance was that he became just the fifth name to enter the Hall after claiming a premiership medallion, Brownlow and Norm Smith trifecta.

A pair of colossal names from an era before nationalisation were also elevated to legend status, with Western Australian champion Merv McIntosh and South Australian coaching titan Jack Oatey becoming the 30th and 31st names to be adorned with such a title.

Despite having a stage of his career interrupted by World War II, McIntosh rounded out his days in boots as the premier ruckman of his time in the west and did so after claiming three Sandover medals, a trifecta of Simpson medals, seven club best and fairests for Perth and a premiership medallion in his final game in 1955.

Following McIntosh was Oatey - a man whose portfolio created across his decades in the SANFL sees him stand alongside few peers.

Although passing in 1994, the man who was honoured with an Order of Australia medal in 1978 and collected a staggering 10 premiership as a player and coach with both Norwood and Sturt finally earned his place among the game's elite in an official sense.

Those that walk through the turnstiles at the Adelaide Oval will also notice that one of the historic venues several grandstands is named in honour of the Semaphore-born champion.

Despite welcoming new faces into the fold on Tuesday night, the selectors were also met with a pair of champions that turned down the honour.

After 336 games for Norwood between 1982 and 1998, as well as a further 63 in the coaching box at the Parade during this millennium, two-time Magarey medalist and triple Fos Williams medal winner Garry McIntosh was always going to be in contention for induction.

However, the 57-year-old reportedly turned down the offer stating that he had not played the game for individual honours and that he was content with his own internal standing within the game's rich history.

Two-time Brownlow medalist and Sydney premiership player Adam Goodes also rebuffed his invitation for his many achievements to adorn the Hall's walls.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 25: Adam Goodes of the Swans celebrates winning the Brownlow Medal during the Sydney Swans Brownlow Medal Dinner at the Hilton Hotel September 25 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images). (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

After Goodes was harangued out of the game with hateful actions and speech over the course of the final seasons of his career, AFL Chairman Richard Goyder offered a public apology to the Sydney superstar during the introduction to last night's events.

Goyder stated that the routine booing that saw the 41-year-old turn his back on the sport was a "stain on the game."