A chance to show what he can do in the AFL convinced Mabior Chol to move to Gold Coast and it's a decision that has paid off for club and player.

In stark contrast to his laid-back demeanour, it was a fierce desire to prove his worth in the AFL which prompted Mabior Chol to take his talent to Gold Coast.

After 31 appearances in six years as a bits-and-pieces player at Richmond, providing cover for the Tigers' forwards and ruckmen, Chol returned to his junior footy roots in Queensland to show he could be a leading light.

It's why his impressive campaign at the Suns, kicking 43 goals in 19 appearances, might be a surprise to some outside the club but is definitely not unexpected for the man himself.

"I kind of knew what I was capable of doing and I've been seeking an opportunity for a very long time to just show what I can do at the highest level," Chol said.

"It's been pretty good.

"There's been a lot of hard work since the start of pre-season, and it's just been an exciting season so far."

A career-best five-goal haul in last weekend's thrilling three-point win over West Coast lifted Chol into the top 10 in the Coleman Medal race.

While Tom Lynch's tally of 66 majors in 2016 is likely to remain untouched as the Suns' most goals in a season, Chol's tally is close to eclipsing Ben King's haul of 47 as the second-best by a Gold Coast player in a single campaign.

It's a return Suns fans could only have dreamt of when King suffered an ACL injury in pre-season which ruled the spearhead out for the entire 2022 season.

"We were keen to give Mabior a great opportunity to play regular AFL footy," Suns coach Stuart Dew said.

"He's clearly taken that.

"I think if Kingy was in the team it probably wouldn't change a whole lot.

"Marbs still goes in the ruck a little bit. He's got that flexibility but he's really growing into his role and understanding how we play as well.

"We're excited by not only what he's done, but what's to come. He's still only young ... it's been a great decision from the footy club but Marbs has put in a lot of work as well."

Having played a key role in one of the best seasons in Suns' history, Chol is relishing keeping the outside chance of a maiden finals appearance for the club alive when they travel to take on Hawthorn at Launceston on Saturday.

"It's been exciting," Chol said.

"As a club it's good to be in this position, trying to fight for the eight instead of being down the bottom of the ladder."