'Follow your dreams': Controversial footy star, 25, quits at the peak of his career to manage bikini models and social media influencers - and stands to make MORE money outside of sport
- AFL star Tom Bugg has turned his back on footy just weeks out from new season
- Bugg, 25, will turn his attention to a growing business managing Instagram stars
- The footy star began the social media company in mid-2018 and it has boomed
- Bugg's girlfriend Shani Grimmond, 21, has over 1.4million followers on Instagram
A controversial AFL star has turned his back on footy just weeks out from the start of a new season to pursue a career managing social media influencers.
Tomas Bugg only joined new club Carlton in November last year, but little more than two months on announced on Friday he was calling time on his football career.
Instead of opponents wearing short-short Bugg, 25, will turn his attention to bikinis and lingerie as he continues to build his business managing Instagram models - such as his girlfriend Shani Grimmond, who boasts more than 1.4 million followers.
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AFL star Tom Bugg (left) has retired from the sport to instead focus on his new business as a manager for leading social media influencers, such as his girlfriend Shani Grimmond (right)
Bugg's girlfriend Shani Grimmond (pictured) has more than 1.4 million Instagram followers and was one of the first on the books at his company Zooz
Bugg said in recent times as his his passion for the game had dwindled as his focus increasingly turned towards his Instagram business 'Zooz'.
'Always follow your dreams and back yourself and it’s time to fully invest into my business Zooz Group,' he said in a retirement post on Instagram.
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'In the space of 7 months we have gone from a start up to a multi million dollar firm.
'There is a longer journey ahead for the business to reach its full potential globally (and) I am so passionate about growing this business.'
Started in mid-2018, the business has boomed off the back of the growing following of Bugg's bikini-model girlfriend Grimmond.
'In the space of 7 months we have gone from a start up to a multi million dollar firm,' Bugg said of the social media business (Pictured is model Tarsha Whitmore)
Started in mid-2018, the business has boomed off the back of the growing following of Bugg's bikini-model girlfriend Grimmond (pictured)
The company now has dozens of influencers on its books and regularly teams their models up with leading businesses (Pictured is model Samantha Rayner)
The company now has dozens of influencers on its books and regularly teams their glamours with leading businesses.
Bugg's career as a footballer was marred by several incidents, including a shocking one-punch knockout of opponent Callum Mills in 2017.
The then Melbourne Demons player pleaded guilty to striking and was banned for a total of six matches over the incident.
At the end of the 2018 season Bugg was delisted by the Demons, before receiving a lifeline from Carlton in the AFL's rookie draft.
Bugg (left) created the business with close friend Ben Morris (right) in mid-2018
But it seems his decision to leave behind football was helped by the minimum wage he was due to earn as a rookie in 2019, compared to the riches of his new business.
Bugg began his career with the Greater Western Sydney giants, picked up as a highly touted junior.
After failing to live up to the hype of his juniors years he was traded to Melbourne in 2016, but fell out of favour in his second year.
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