Two Gold Coast players have earnt AFL Coaches Association votes from the Round 6 match against Melbourne. 

In his first game of AFL football, Izak Rankine set the stage alight with a sizzling three-goal performance. 

The debutant had a major impact on the game and created goals out of nothing to keep the SUNS in the contest.

His efforts were rewarded with four votes in the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year Award.

Equally impressive on Saturday night was Charlie Ballard in defence, earning four votes himself.

The third-year defender was like a brick wall in defence, hardly letting anything past him and helping the SUNS to rebound on offence.

Ballard had a game-high 11 intercept possessions and five intercept marks to go with his 15 disposals. 

Melbourne had Max Gawn receive the most votes from the match with nine, followed by Christian Petracca (seven), Jack Viney (four) and Clayton Oliver (two).

The AFL Coaches Association’s AFL Champion Player Award is an award voted by the 18 coaching panels on a 5,4,3,2,1 basis after each home and away game, acknowledging outstanding effort to an individual player in a season.

Round 6 Votes: GCFC v MELB

9 - Max Gawn (MELB)

7 - Christian Petracca (MELB)

4 - Charlie Ballard (GCFC)

4 - Izak Rankine (GCFC)

4 - Jack Viney (MELB)

2 - Clayton Oliver (MELB)

AFLCA Champion Player Leaderboard: