"Maybe that's why I'm equally good on both feet. It built strength and coordination in both legs and was good for flexibility. When you're young, you enjoy a little bit of fighting as well!"
In fact, Galloway was so good, he became Australian taekwondo champion at youth level before football took precedence. But he still uses the stretching techniques he learned to keep his muscles supple for the rigours of professional football.
The 22-year-old spent much of last season playing at left fullback for the Central Coast Mariners with All Whites defender Storm Roux locking down the right-back spot. But Galloway seems a natural fit into the Phoenix's right-back role, where the departure of Jacob Tratt has left a worrying hole. Tratt played 20 games in his debut season in Wellington before leaving the club for personal reasons.
"I'm naturally right-footed but I honestly don't mind playing either side," said Galloway.
The Western Australian native joined Melbourne Victory as a teenager but after 54 A-League matches in four years, moved to the Mariners last season in search of more playing time, which was achieved as Galloway started 23 of the their 27 games.
A trial at top flight Dutch club Willem II followed before Galloway received a phone call from new Phoenix assistant coach Rado Vidosic, who he'd worked with at Victory.
"When I came back I was unsure what was going to happen. I was sussing out my options and Rado gave me a call. He told me he was off to Wellington and asked if there was any interest in coming here. He told me a bit about the club and what they were trying to do. The fact that he came after me showed me really good signs that they wanted me here. I really liked what I heard and from there we kept talking and now I'm here," he said.
Galloway is among a clutch of A-League players named in Australia's squad for next month's AFC under-23 qualifying tournament in Myanmar. He played for his country at the 2013 under-20 World Cup in Turkey, starting all three group games against Columbia, El Salvador and Turkey.
Galloway and Vidosic aren't the only new faces at Phoenix HQ. New head coach Darije Kalezic is well into his work and the Dutchman has already brought a firm structure to the side's pre-season programme.
"He's really good - I'm really enjoying it under him," said Galloway.
"He's strict, he knows what he wants, he implements everything he needs to and the boys are all following it in training, so it's really good. To work with Rado again and learn from him and from Darije was something I couldn't turn down," he said.
