They both played for Collingwood, they are both mature age recruits and they both starred for Gold Coast SUNS in Saturday's win over Richmond.

Danny Stanley and Sam Iles have been two of the GC SUNS most consistent performers in their inaugural season and stepped up big time in Cairns.

Stanley kicked three goals in the second quarter to help drag Gold Coast back from a 36-point deficit and his 10 disposals for the term helped changed the momentum of the match.

He finished with 21 touches and five marks, while Iles added 23, seven marks and four tackles.

For those who have watched the GC SUNS closely through the season, it's no surprise this pair was at the forefront of the win.

Their careers have shared an almost parallel path and they are repaying coach Guy McKenna in spades.

Stanley, 23, was drafted by Collingwood in 2005 and managed five matches in his four seasons, while Iles, 24, was taken in the 2006 pre-season draft and played seven matches in two seasons.

They were both taken by the GC SUNS in the 2010 Rookie Draft - Iles at no.3 and Stanley at no.5 - and shone in the VFL last season.

McKenna said after the win over the Tigers their performances had been first-rate all season.

"Turtle (Iles) won our best and fairest last year in the VFL and I reckon Bull (Stanley) was in the top five or six," he said.

"Both those boys understand that they've got an opportunity. With the rules we've got around our drafting and how our list was put together, they know they've got some good young kids banging on their door.

"They realise if they perform well and work hard then their positions are theirs until proven otherwise. They certainly haven't put a foot wrong."

They duo often look for each other on the field, with Iles spotting up Stanley for a goal in the second quarter on Saturday, and Stanley repaying the favour for his mate later in the term.

It was only fitting that two such crucial players through the entire season were on hand to put the icing on their third victory.