Pitted against an Orange City side gunning for a 12^th consecutive premiership win Life Studio were outweighed heavily in terms of big-game experience and the Lions called on all of that to pull away in the third quarter.

Life Studio were far from disgraced in the 39-35 loss as they stuck with the Lions throughout and cut the gap to just one goal during the fourth quarter too, but that big-game experience did tell as the now 12-time defending champions held on in the clutch.

"It was an awesome game and even at the end I don't think it felt like there was four points in it, we kept coming back and clawing our way back into it, but we're just unlucky again I guess," Aplin said, before conceding the Lions were just the better side on the day.

"We've got no excuse as to why we lost and we won't look for one because Orange City were just the better side on the day but I'm still very proud of my girls because, looking at the side we've got, only one player outside myself had played in a grand final at this level before."

Em Brisbane was the only other one in Life Studio's decider outfit with previous grand final experience, she featured in the side's last grand final appearance in 2015.

Even Aplin didn't play in that loss to Orange City - then known as Robin Hood - after suffering a season-ending knee injury, although she has a wealth of big-game experience and was the focal point of Life Studio's last title win in 2007.

For context Brisbane's youngest sister Sophie, who was strong at wing attack and centre on Saturday, was just 13 when Life Studio last played in a grand final.

Compare that to the Lions with the likes of Tegan Dray and Sarah Thorley in their side, who now have 10 and nine titles to their names respectively.

"With such a young side to stick with them like that is a big effort so I certainly think there's a bright future for our club and we'll be better for it," Aplin said.

"Grand finals, and finals in general, are a completely different level of competition. We rose to it [in the preliminary final] against Vipers to give ourselves a chance.

"I don't think our energy levels were quite as high as they were against Vipers [on Saturday] but I still don't think that game took a toll, I think it would've hindered us more having that week off to be honest.

"Obviously playing in the game it's tough for me to really analyse the performance straight away and I'm not really sure what the difference was, because the girls played really well and threw everything at them.

"Between both teams all year maybe it's been those little things working and coming off that's made the difference, they did for us in [the preliminary final] but maybe they didn't [on Saturday]. They came off for City and credit to them."