Adelaide star Rory Sloane is the winner of the AFL Players’ MVP of the Month award for April.

Sloane attracted 59 per cent of the player votes to claim the title, ahead of Richmond’s Dustin Martin (16 per cent) and Crows teammate Eddie Betts (9 per cent).

The 27-year-old is ranked inside the top five across the league in tackles, clearances, score involvements and contested possessions.

The 1988 AFLPA MVP, Gerard Healy, says Sloane is in career-best form across the opening six rounds of the season.

“Sloane is the complete package, who has delivered in five out of the first six rounds. His ball use, two-way running, attack, and defensive skills have been on display,” Healy said.

“He’s set the standard in the first six weeks for the rest of the competition to follow.”

Geelong’s Joel Selwood, Essendon’s Zach Merrett and Port Adelaide’s Ollie Wines rounded out the six nominees, as decided by the MVP winners panel that includes Healy, Chris Judd, Leigh Matthews and Tim Watson.

Sloane is now automatically nominated for the end-of-season AFL Players’ Association MVP Award (Leigh Matthews Trophy).