THE NEPHEW of Port Adelaide premiership player Dean Brogan is shaping as a potential late bloomer in this year's NAB AFL Draft as clubs search for a project ruckman.

Bailey Griffiths has been training with the Oakleigh Chargers the past two months and will likely make his TAC Cup debut next week for the club after taking the eye of recruiters playing for Marcellin College at school level. 

The youngster is 204cm and 103kg and is one of 55 players invited to test at the Victorian state combine in October, having previously played basketball at under-18 level for Vic Metro at last year's national championships. 

Chargers talent manager Craig Notman said Griffiths had highlighted his potential.

"He's very, very raw but shows some very good signs, and we've had him in for about seven weeks combining that with his school stuff and trying to fast-track him getting up to speed with the game," Notman said. 

"One of his biggest things at the moment is transitioning from basketball and learning the caper. His ruckwork is terrific and he's a very aggressive big fella. The way he attacks the ball in the air is a real standout and he has really strong technique in the ruck. 

"Just learning the caper and running patterns and those types of things that I think is the biggest thing for him at the moment." 

Despite being eligible for this year's draft, Griffiths was granted permission to play in last weekend's under-17s 'futures' game, and was named as one of Vic Metro's best players with 27 hit-outs. 

Griffiths is the son of basketball Olympian Michelle Brogan, who is the sister of Dean, who played in Port's 2004 flag before finishing his career at Greater Western Sydney. Brogan is still a member of the Giants' coaching panel. 

Griffiths has not been selected for Oakleigh's game on Saturday, but the Chargers have another two home and away games before the finals start.

"There has been a fair amount of interest in him, because people are certainly interested in a bloke of that size. We've made him earn his place in the side coming in late, but he'll get that opportunity in the next couple of weeks," he said. 

"I think Dean has been a big driver in his footy side of things, and been a great help and terrific port of call for transitioning him across and learning more about the game as well. 

"There's certainly some good genes there. We look forward to seeing what he can do."

Griffiths is one of nine players from the Chargers to receive invitations to test at either the national or state combines at the end of the season.