Earlier this week, Brereton seemed to openly criticise Knights and his team for what he perceives as a lack of defensive pressure.
The former Hawthorn champ and now commentator said Knights, in his post-match comments, had focused on his team’s delivery into its forward line but said little on its ability to restrict the opposition.
“That's delusional to me,” Brereton said.
On Tuesday, at his weekly press conference, Knights was asked of Brereton’s comments and the Bombers coach had clearly taken offence.
“I think Dermott also suggested Scott Gumbleton should go back to Bendigo the previous week, and Scott actually performed pretty well on Anzac Day,” Knights said.
“So I think Dermott was actually a little bit delusional about young Gumbleton as well."
Knights said every facet of the game, including defence, was scrutinised equally by the coaching staff and indicated that it was execution, not philosophy, that was letting the Bombers down.
Saturday night’s match between Essendon and Hawthorn is certain to be a fiery encounter following a long list of emotion-charged clashes between the rivals.
From the well-known “line in the sand” match to last year’s round-22 clash - where Matthew Lloyd knocked out Brad Sewell with a bone-rattling bump - which determined a finals spot, there is plenty of feeling between the two clubs.
Players and officials have also swapped colours in the off-season.
Knights knows there will be plenty of emotion on Saturday night and hopes that feeling may spark his side which, like Hawthorn, is under pressure with a 1-4 record after five rounds.
“I think the passion and emotion of that round-22 game last year was through the roof,” he said.
“It was amazing to be involved in and it’s going to spill over on Saturday night. There’ll be some part of that passion there.
“So we’ve got to get our hands dirty with that and get involved with that, just as Hawthorn will.”
