The AFL has announced eight new Hall of Fame inductees on Tuesday night, while a former Port Adelaide superstar was elevated to Legend status.

Matthew Pavlich, Terry Cashion, Bill Dempsey, Mike Fitzpatrick, Ted Tyson, Brent Harvey, Michael Taylor and Nicky Winmar were all inducted into the Hall of Fame after illustrious careers.

Pavlich played 353 games for Fremantle and is a six-time best and fairest award winner at the club who kicked 700 goals across his impressive career.

Fellow recent retiree Harvey, the league's current games record holder, was also inducted, with his 432-game career and four All Australian blazers lauded by the competition.

Fitzpatrick, who also served as the chairman of the AFL Commission, had a glistening career for Subiaco and Carlton, winning two premierships as captain with the latter.

In one of the heartwarming moments of the night, Dempsey accepted his honour with a moving speech on stage. The 80-year-old played in the 1960s and '70s, ending his career with a combined 500 games for West Perth in the WAFL and the Buffaloes in the NT.

Fellow member of the Indigenous Team of the Century, Winmar was also honoured with elevation into the Hall of Fame after 230 games for the Saints and 21 for the Western Bulldogs. The beloved Saint was selected in the All Australian team on two occasions and was named in St Kilda's Team of the Century.

Tasmanian Cashion played most of his footy in the 1940s and 50s, finally awarded for his influence on the game on Tuesday night, while dominant West Perth forward Tyson was also acknowledged for his stellar career that saw him kick 1197 goals in the 1930s and 40s.

Taylor, a six-time best and fairest winner for Norwood in the SANFL, was also inducted after a dominant career in South Australia.

Three-time premiership star Russell Ebert was elevated to Legend status, after his initial induction into the hall of fame in 1996. Ebert played 392 games for Port Adelaide across his career (25 for North Melbourne in 1979) and coached the club for 116. Ebert is a Port Adelaide life member and a member of the SANFL Hall of Fame.

The Australian Football Hall of Fame selection committee consists of Richard Goyder, Tania Armstrong, Graham Cornes, David Frith, Ross Glendinning, Karen Lyon, Paul Marsh, Al Nicholson, Michael O’Loughlin, David Parkin and Patrick Keane.