The son of John Robertson (1847-1918),[2] and Catherine Robertson (1852-1914), née McNicol,[3] John Duncan Robertson was born at Woolloongabba, Queensland on 22 July 1889.
He married Rubina Isobel Tarrant (1890-1969) on 4 July 1918. They had a daughter, Jean Dorothy Robertson(1920-2019), later Mrs. John Francis Carolane.[4]
Football
He came to the VFL from Port Melbourne Railway United.[5] He started his league career as a wingman, before later playing as a centre.[5] His play has been described as "flashy", on occasion he would hold onto the ball for too long.[5] He made 60 senior appearances for Melbourne, from 1909 to 1913.[6]