For a holomorphic vector bundle $E$ over a polarised Kähler manifold, we establish a direct link between the slope stability of $E$ and the asymptotic behaviour of Donaldson's functional, by defining the Quot-scheme limit of Fubini-Study metrics. In particular, we provide an explicit estimate which proves that Donaldson's functional is coercive on the set of Fubini-Study metrics if $E$ is slope stable, and give a new proof of Hermitian-Einstein metrics implying slope stability.