By Michael Whiting

Despite four years in the AFL with barely a game to his credit, Danny Stanley kept the faith.

Drafted by Collingwood with the no.21 pick in the 2005 NAB AFL Draft, Stanley plugged away at the Magpies for four seasons and finished with a total of five senior matches before being delisted.

He then trialled at Fremantle at the end of 2009, which didn't work out, before being snapped up by the Gold Coast SUNS in the 2010 Rookie Draft.

It's a journey that might have forced others to question themselves, but not 'Bull'.

"I always believed in myself that I could play at the highest level," Stanley said.

"Unfortunately at Collingwood that wasn't to be, but I always knew in myself that I was good enough.

"It was a bit of a kick in the guts being delisted but I just had to keep really positive and now it's turned out for the better."

The 23-year-old came to the GC SUNS knowing he would have to play 2009 in the VFL before getting another shot at the big time, but that was anything but a deterrent.

Stanley says he remembers assistant coach Ken Hinkley telling him about the unique opportunity he would have once the GC SUNS made their AFL debut.

"I certainly didn't see it (VFL) as a step back, because I wasn't playing AFL anyway," he said.

"I'm loving being up here and having the chance to play AFL footy. I can't be thankful enough to the Gold Coast footy club to give me the opportunity and second chance. I'm loving it at the moment."

And Stanley is repaying the GC SUNS faith in spades, having played all 15 matches this season and starring in last Saturday's win over Richmond.

He kicked three second-quarter goals to wrest the momentum from the Tigers and was one of Gold Coast SUNS best in the 15-point victory.

Along with good mate and housemate Sam Iles, Stanley will face his former Magpie teammates at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night, but he said there was nothing personal in the contest.

"They're the best team in the competition, so it should be good," he said. "I'll do what I've been doing the last few weeks and do my role.

"Shane O'Bree, Bluey (McKenna), Josh Fraser, Sam Iles and myself were there a few years under Mick and in the system so we have a rough idea what they're going to play like and their style, so I suppose you could say we have a bit of inside info on them at the moment."

Stanley's two-year contract finishes at the end of this season and he is more than keen to extend if given the opportunity.

"With the young kids we've drafted and the uncontracted players we've got, we've got a pretty unique group and a great opportunity going forward to have a pretty deadly sort of team in two years' time and that's exciting and I'm keen to be part of that," he said.