After losing seven of their first 10 matches to start the season, Gordon won nine of their next 11 starts to book a spot in the grand final against Sydney Uni.

While the 2020 premiers couldn't match it with the Students on a wet afternoon, the Stags run towards the playoffs indicates the club knows exactly what they're doing at the backend of the season.

Overview with Billy Melrose:

"The Shute Shield has changed quite a bit over the years. With the proliferation of the different professional leagues around the world, you get quite a turnover of players these days,” Melrose told Rugby News. 

“The better you perform as a team, the more players you typically lose to higher levels or pro opportunities.

"It’s what you want at the end of the day because we want our players moving on to the next level. What is frustrating is that it often doesn’t help Australian rugby because they are heading overseas. Particularly the US comp recently. They're not always moving to a greater level, just greater finances.