Shaun Higgins’ brilliant season continues with the star midfielder named the AFL Players’ Association’s Most Valuable Player for June.

Collecting 30-plus disposals in each of his four appearances throughout the month and 5 goals, Higgins pipped Carlton star Patrick Cripps, polling 38 per cent of the votes to Cripps’ 36.

Collingwood midfielder Steele Sidebottom rounded out the top three.

Higgins has now been automatically nominated for the AFLPA MVP Award (Leigh Matthews Trophy) at season’s end, where he will be hoping to become the club’s first MVP since Wayne Carey in 1998.