Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews has savaged the AFL over having to travel for next week's NAB Cup semi-final.

Matthews asked "how can they screw you like that?" after learning the Lions will either play Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium or Geelong at Telstra Dome next Friday night.

The Lions reached the semi-finals with an impressive 32-point win over the Western Bulldogs, also at Telstra Dome.

Approaching the end of his post-match media conference, Matthews was asked how he would manage the team for next week's game.

"We'll see, we have to play in Brisbane next week, we've travelled to Cairns - two hours to Cairns, two hours to Melbourne - surely the Brisbane people are going to get a chance to see their team live in a semi-final," Matthews said.

It was then pointed out to him that the AFL had issued a media release earlier confirming Port or Geelong would host the game.

The issuer of that release, AFL media relations manager Patrick Keane, was sitting in the back of the media conference room.

"In that case, I'm not even sure we'll try," Matthews snapped.

When someone then commented that the venue issue clearly annoyed him, Matthew replied: "Absolutely, it does, how can they screw you like that? Three travels in consecutive weeks.

"Carrara (Gold Coast) exists, we've got a ground up there - that really annoys me, yeah.

"But, it's out of our control - all that's in our control, if that's what we get lumbered with, is to decide which players we want to take."

When asked if he would take up the matter with the AFL, he said: "It doesn't make any difference, you can't beat 'City Hall'.

"We have been pounded all summer ... Aker (Jason Akermanis) left, Mal Michael left, Vossy (Michael Voss) has retired, Brad Scott's retired.

"You've got a chance to see your group live and the AFL aren't taking advantage of that? That amazes me.

"We play Geelong (or) Port, who both played at home last week - crikey, there's no fairness in this game."

Keane said Geelong or Port would host the game because they would be coming off a six-day break - their quarter-final is on Saturday night in Darwin.

He said Geelong would come off two six-day breaks in a row if it won.

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