DAMIEN Hardwick now admits it was a mistake, and midfielder Nathan Foley says he had no choice but to move on.

Now both can achieve redemption after Foley was dropped for Richmond's drought-breaking final last year.

Foley, 28, is finding it hard to contain his excitement this week at the prospect of facing Port Adelaide after Hardwick confirmed he wouldn't make the same mistake twice. 

"I'm really excited. It was disappointing to miss out last year, but that's footy at times," he told AFL.com.au this week. 

"Footy's a funny industry. I've been in it 10 years and you learn to deal with things pretty well and you just get on with things.

"While it was disappointing, you move on.

"It's really exciting to play my first final and potentially for a lot of blokes hopefully to win our first final, so I'm looking forward to it."

A run of bad form leading into the elimination final against Carlton last year led to Foley's omission. 

He'd had a patchy season after returning from his torn Achilles in round seven and was dropped with Orren Stephenson for the long-awaited final. 

Chris Newman, Jack Riewoldt and Shane Edwards were the inclusions, with former Tiger Matt White the only player forced out because of a hamstring injury. 

On Thursday, Hardwick acknowledged he had erred.  

"It was a mistake I made last year not playing him, and I spoke to Nathan about that. I'm glad we get the opportunity to play him this year," Hardwick said. 

"He's such an important player for us, he gives us little things that people don't see. 

"His ability to win the contest and then get that ball to the guys outside is really important.

"He's had a terrific season and played his 150th game and became a life member of our footy club. 

"We're just pleased for his sake but more importantly I think he's more about the team, which is the No.1 thing, which sums up Nathan."

Foley was dropped again in round two this year and had a spell in the VFL before being recalled for the Tigers' round-nine clash with Melbourne. 

He wasn't having an issue with finding the ball in the opening two rounds but wasn't having enough impact with it. 

He trained hard and worked closely with VFL coach Tim Clarke in a bid to get himself in contention for senior selection. 

Foley was recalled after a positive stint in the VFL and now hasn't missed a senior game since the infamous loss to the Demons. 

On Sunday, he will also shrug off the unenviable tag of being the longest-serving present player to not have appeared in a final, having run out for 153 games.  

That mantle will be passed on to Melbourne duo James Frawley and Lynden Dunn, who have both played 139. 

"It's been a long time coming, probably 10 years I think, so it will be nice to get rid of that status," Foley said. 

"I'm generally a pretty motivated sort of person, so I didn't need that to spur me on."

What the occasion will mean to Foley isn't lost on his teammates. 

Bachar Houli, who said his nickname for Foley was "Mr Right Man" because of his dedication to perfection, said the players would think of him when they hit Adelaide Oval on Sunday.   

"It's great to see Nathan playing his first final, and he's been nothing short of sensational with just the way he prepares for every game," Houli said. 

"Last week we kind of did it for Chris Newman and this week we'll hopefully play extra hard for Nathan Foley who's been such a competitor at this club for many years."