Vale Mick Erwin
FUNERAL SERVICE THURSDAY APRIL 23
Here is the link to the livestream if you are unable to attend in person.
https://tobinbrothers.com.au/tribute/michael-erwin-2602743/
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Michael James “Mick” Erwin
Born: 8 June, 1943, Stawell
Died: 11 April 2026
PRAHRAN Football Club is mourning the loss of its famous 1978 premiership coach Mick Erwin.
Sadly, Erwin passed away on Sunday morning, on the eve of the club’s inaugural Hall Of Fame ceremony and 140th year celebration at Caulfield racecourse on Friday April 17.
Erwin had a storied playing and coaching football career with several clubs but it was the 1978 premiership in his first season that endeared him for a lifetime to Two Blues fans.
A crowd of 30,569 packed into St. Kilda’s Junction Oval, and many more watched the coverage on Channel 0, as the match lived up to the hype, with brilliant football and some brutal physical clashes.
The hard-fought match resulted in a 22 point victory to Prahran (21.15.141 to 17.17.119).
Long after his playing and coaching career Erwin returned to Prahran as part of a sub committee with past players the late Kim Smith, Paul ‘Squizzy’ Taylor (and later Will Walford) and then president Tim Habel after the club went into recess from 1995-1998.
The mission was to clear the club’s debt and ensure its survival by returning Prahran to Toorak Park.
After protracted debate by Stonnington Council, Prahran, in 2000 in partnership with Southbank Amateur Football Club, was awarded joint tenancy with Old Xavierians which remains to this day. Erwin then joined the Prahran committee and served a director of football in 2002.
Born at Stawell on June 8th, 1943, Michael James “Mick” Erwin played 29 games with Collingwood between 1962-65. He transferred to Richmond during the 1965 season, and played 33 games with the Tigers between 1965-68. Erwin joined Coburg midway through 1968 as part of an arrangement to become captain-coach the following year.
In his second season as captain-coach, Erwin led Coburg to the 1970 VFA Second Division premiership. At the conclusion of 1972, Erwin stood down as coach, but remained as captain for the 1973 season. In total he played 90 games with the Lions between 1968-73.
Coburg then swapped Erwin for Port Melbourne player Peter Smith (son of legendary Melbourne coach Norm, and himself a former Melbourne and Carlton player)
The trade worked for all concerned, with Port Melbourne winning the First Division and Coburg the Second Division VFA premierships in 1974.
Templestowe in the Diamond Valley league appointed Erwin captain-coach in 1975, but Port Melbourne refused the clearance. After an injury-interrupted season, Erwin’s career ended with a narrow defeat in the Preliminary Final against Dandenong.
Williamstown offered Erwin their coaching job for 1976, but the offer was declined. Instead he returned to Richmond as a specialist coach, a role he held for two seasons.
Erwin was appointed coach of Prahran ahead of the 1978 season.
The Two Blues had missed finals each year since winning the 1973 First Division flag, and along with the new coach, some aggressive recruiting raised expectations of the committee and supporters. At the mid-point of the season, Prahran sat outside the four with 4 wins and a draw from nine matches.
However, the team had developed into a formidable combination and won seven of nine games in the second half of the season, to take third place on the ladder.
Finals wins over Dandenong and Port Melbourne set up a Grand Final against Preston.
With the two meetings during the season resulting in a draw and a 5-point win to Prahran, a grudge match was expected and disappointed no one.
In a fiery clash Prahran won 21.15.141 to 17.17.119.
Prahran made finals in 1979, but lost to Port in the semi-final. In 1980 & ‘81 the Two Blues missed finals by percentage. Erwin coached the VFA team in three representative matches in 1979-80, with wins over Queensland and Northern Tasmania and a loss against South Australia.
In 1982 Erwin was appointed assistant coach to Tom Hafey at Collingwood. He was promoted to the senior position after the mid-season sacking of Hafey, but was overlooked for the full-time position which went to Port Adelaide legend John Cahill.
Outside football Mick had a long career in the sporting goods industry, first with Collingwood teammate Thorold Merrett's store, before becoming a director of Merrett-Hassett, then joining Puma Australia, before establishing the Kea Sportswear Company which designed the Two Blues VAFA jumper in 1999 which is on display to this day with the Prahran Juniors.
Mick maintained his connection with Prahran as a regular at the traditional Jack Morgans Luncheon.
A great clubman and highly regarded by the wider football community. Our thoughts are with Wendy and the Erwin family.
Research: TOD MACKAY