Erwin crossed to Coburg in the VFA during the 1968 season and was captain/coach from 1969 to 1972, leading the Lions to the 1970 2nd Division premiership. Erwin stepped down as coach for the 1973 season, but remained as captain under new coach John Dugdale. Ahead of the 1974 season, Coburg traded Erwin to Port Melbourne for Peter Smith. Both players won premierships with their new clubs in 1974.
In 1975 Erwin was appointed captain-coach of Diamond Valley League team Templestowe, but Port Melbourne refused a clearance and he played a second season for the Borough.
Retiring as a player, Erwin returned to Richmond as a specialist coach for two seasons.[2]
In 1978 he returned to the VFA, as coach of Prahran taking the Two Blues to the 1978 VFA premiership. He commenced the 1982 season as reserves coach at Collingwood before taking over as senior coach from Tom Hafey after he was sacked in the middle of the 1982 season. He coached the Magpies for the final twelve games of the 1982 season. Erwin, however was not retained as Collingwood Football Club senior coach at the end of the 1982 season and was replaced by John Cahill as Collingwood Football Club senior coach.
References
^Fiddian, Marc (1986). The Blue Boys. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: Prahran Football Club. pp. 105–106.
^Fiddian, Marc (1979). Of Lions and Liniment. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: Coburg Football Club. pp. 115–116.
Hogan P: The Tigers Of Old, Richmond FC, Melbourne 1996
Fiddian M: Of Lions and Liniment, Coburg FC, Melbourne 1979
Fiddian M: The Blue Boys, Prahran FC, Melbourne 1986
