Brisbane says it has been punished for its success by the AFL, which has slashed the club's salary cap concessions.

Lions chairman Graeme Downie said the league ruling did not make sense, allowing Sydney to retain its large salary cap advantage, while Brisbane will receive little over half the concessions it currently gets in dollar terms.

"This demonstrates they're concerned not to disadvantage Sydney because Sydney haven't been doing well in recent years," Downie said.

"But they're quite comfortable with reducing our allowance because we have done well.

"To differentiate between the two of us doesn't make a lot of sense, so it's got a lot to do with winning two premierships."

Downie warned the loss of about $250,000 each year could cost the Lions players.

"If we're talking about any of our core group, our premiership players, it will certainly hurt the club," he said.

Downie was disappointed the new rules would help his club retain interstate youngsters but did "nothing to help us increase the local content on our list".

"We don't have any priority access to Queensland, Sydney doesn't have priority access to New South Welshmen.

"So it really means this problem we have is not going to be eliminated in the future."

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