AFL premiership player Joel Hamling has officially joined the Sydney Swans as an unrestricted free agent.

The surprise move to the Swans comes just one week after the Dockers offered a one-year contract extension to the injury-prone defender.

Instead, the Yorta Yorta man will join a Sydney squad who are desperately looking to bolster their key defensive stocks.

The Swans announced today via their official website that they were "excited" that Hamling had joined the club.

Hamling departs Fremantle after 68 games in seven seasons and previously spent time with Geelong and the Western Bulldogs.

He has featured in just two games at AFL level over a three-year period due to a run of serious ankle injuries.

However, he appeared to get through the 2023 season unscathed having registered 17 games at WAFL level, including the grand final loss to East Fremantle.

The 30-year-old also played four AFL games and had 14 disposals in the Dockers' win over Hawthorn in Round 24.

He was originally drafted by the Cats in 2011 but did not make an appearance at senior level after three years on the list.

The tall defender would go on to join the Western Bulldogs and was a valuable member of the club's famous 2016 premiership win over Sydney.

Due to the AFL's formula for free agency, which accounts for factors like a player's age and length of contract, the Dockers have not received a compensation pick for losing Hamling.

He is the second premiership player to have joined Sydney via free agency in the past week with Melbourne midfielder James Jordon also making the switch.

The Swans are likely to be busy during this year's trade period which begins tomorrow.

The harbour city team have also been linked with Collingwood's Taylor Adams and Melbourne ruckman Brodie Grundy.