SYDNEY superstar Lance Franklin has won his first AFL Players' Association Most Valuable Player of the Month award, with his peers voting him August's best player. 

Franklin booted 18 goals in four games and received 30 per cent of the vote to edge out Richmond's Dustin Martin (25 per cent).

Crow Matt Crouch, Giant Josh Kelly, Eagle Josh Kennedy and Cat Patrick Dangerfield were the month's other nominees.

AUGUST NOMINEES
Lance Franklin (Sydney)
Dustin Martin (Richmond)
Matt Crouch (Adelaide)
Josh Kelly (Greater Western Sydney)
Josh Kennedy (West Coast)
Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)

VOTING PROCESS
Former MVP winners (Leigh Matthews, Chris Judd, Gerard Healy and Tim Watson) will nominate six players they believe to be the best for the month. Current players will then vote to decide who they believe is the MVP of the month from the six nominees. The monthly winner will then be automatically nominated for the end of season AFL Players' Association MVP Award (Leigh Matthews Trophy).

VOTING PERIODS
March/April - rounds 1-6 - Rory Sloane (Adelaide)
May - rounds 7-10 - Josh Kelly (Greater Western Sydney)
June - rounds 11-15 - Dustin Martin (Richmond)
July - rounds 16-19 - Dustin Martin (Richmond)
August - rounds 20-23 - Lance Franklin (Sydney)